County ponders Lost Bottom Park improvements
Lost Bottom Park in the Claxton community has a gravel road, a boat ramp, a trash can and open fields. But the Anderson County Commission voted Aug. 20 to look into a grant to help build a playground, fishing pier, boardwalk and more at the site. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Anderson County is looking to add these amenities to Lost Bottom Park at 1310 Ridgeview Drive.
The County Commission on Aug. 20 unanimously approved applying for a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund these and other improvements, such as a drinking fountain, fencing, landscaping, and parking.
Funding has not yet been secured, however.
County Mayor Terry Frank provided a $1.82 million cost estimate for these upgrades at the county Operations Committee’s August meeting.
She also mentioned that the updates would be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The DOE plans to award up to $42 million in grants to address past environmental damage, with organizations and governments in Anderson County being eligible recipients.
The grants must be used for recreational or environmental projects.
Frank expressed hope that funding from this DOE pool, called the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration fund, would help cover the cost of the Lost Bottom Park upgrades.
Frank also noted that the county has an easement agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority to use the property.
She also said the area had previously been targeted by vandals.
“People would go out there, spin their wheels, and do things that would cause the Sheriff’s Department to have to head out there and see what’s going on,” Frank said. However, she added that the area has been cleaned up over time.
Frank said Chuck Estes, from the group Pellissippi Blueway, is interested in assisting the county in securing grant funding for the improvements.