CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Cleveland is one step closer to adding another connection to the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway and is seeking a grant to improve pedestrian access along 25th Street, which is part of the State Route 60 corridor.
In a recent meeting, city leaders discussed creation of a pedestrian route along Ocoee Crossing linking neighborhoods in the northern reaches of Ocoee Street to Tinsley Park, which is part of the greenway.
The project, funded by a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant, is going into the design phase, said City Manager Janice Casteel.
Vice Mayor George Poe voiced concerns about the time needed to complete the greenway connector.
And Councilman David May said other sidewalk projects are also in demand, citing residents eager to connect the greenway to the western portions of 20th Street beyond Stuart Elementary.
"The greenway is kind of the magnet for all of these sidewalks to end up," said May.
The city must work through TDOT's processes, said Jonathan Jobe, director of development and engineering services.
"I could have had the Ocoee greenway connector on the ground two years ago if we'd done it in-house, but that would have been a $700,000 project," said Jobe.
Councilman Bill Estes said the trade-off for having state funding for most of the work is that grants come with a lot of regulations.
The council voted 7-0 to seek a $1 million TDOT multimodal access grant for new sidewalks and other improvements for 25th Street. The grant requires a 5 percent city match, which amounts to $50,000.
The anticipated first phase will connect the Peerless Road sidewalk north of 25th Street to the existing 25th Street sidewalk near the intersection of Old 25th Street.
The project is still being tweaked and public comment will be sought in the future, Casteel said.
In other business, Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland questioned Bradley County's role in the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway advisory board, citing the county's relatively small financial commitment to the greenway's upkeep and growth when compared to the money, resources and time allocated by the city.
"In my thinking, it ought to be a city greenway for several reasons," said Rowland. "Number One is funding. It is a question of equity."
The county commits $10,000 annually compared with Cleveland's nearly $90,000, he said. City expenses include $40,000 in utilities, $10,000 in maintenance and $39,600 for a full-time employee designated to the greenway.
In addition to this, city personnel handle design, engineering and security for the greenway and all matching grant funds come from the city, said Rowland.
According to Bradley County and Cleveland government websites, the county appoints about one-third of the advisory board's nine voting members.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.