Oak Ridge buys former challenge course property for new park
After some negotiations, the city bought the 12.06 acres on Old Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge for $350,000.
The center and its challenge course had already closed before the city began negotiations.
Oak Ridge interim City Manager Jack Suggs announced the purchase at a City Council work session Tuesday, Oct. 17.
“The city would like to thank the Anderson County Board of Education and their staff for working with us to keep this land for the public benefit,” he said.
“We believe that in years to come, the decisions by the council and [Board of Education] will bear fruit for our city, county and region,” Oak Ridge communications specialist Lauren Gray said in an email.
She said the city plans to incorporate the land into neighboring Haw Ridge Park.
Haw Ridge is already a city park and features hiking and mountain bike trails along with fishing spots.
Gray said the city’s still working on a formal plan for the Life Development Center land. She said the city will keep the site’s structures, which include a house, until the city develops its plans.