Town Hall East will bring residents and community leaders together Monday, Nov. 9, for an update on Knoxville’s long-range planning process and a panel discussion about the future of Chilhowee Park.

The community meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Jessie Hillman, principal planner for the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission, will open the program with an update on “What’s Next Knoxville?” The initiative is helping establish goals for the city’s development during the next 25 years.

Community discussions held in April and May were followed by sessions in September and October to evaluate the goals that emerged from the earlier meetings. Hillman will summarize the proposed goals, explain where residents can review the materials online and provide information about completing a public survey.

The main portion of the meeting will focus on Chilhowee Park and the possibilities for its renovation.

The Chilhowee Park Advisory Group met five times between March and September. The process began with a review of the park’s history and role in the community and concluded with a suggested framework to guide the design work that will follow.

Three East Knoxville residents who participated in the advisory sessions will serve on the panel:

  • Knoxville City Council member Denzel Grant
  • Maggie Longmire, a Sierra Club board member
  • Sky Smith, an English teacher at Austin-East Magnet High School

The panelists will discuss the effectiveness of the advisory process, their vision for Chilhowee Park and the priorities they believe should guide its future.

Knoxville’s Department of Urban Design and Development produced a series of illustrated, large-format booklets summarizing the results of the advisory group’s meetings. A department representative will bring the complete set of booklets for residents to review during the meeting.

The program is an opportunity for East Knoxville residents to learn more about two significant planning efforts and to remain involved as decisions affecting the community move forward.

For additional information, email townhalleast@google.com.

Photo information: Town Hall East supplied photographs of Jessie Hillman, Sky Smith, Denzel Grant and Maggie Longmire. Permission to use the supplied images has been confirmed.

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