Collier Preserve, the park adjacent to the Powell Library, will be closed through April 7 for a special stormwater management project, according to Carol Evans of Legacy Parks.
This project involves a partnership between the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Legacy Parks and Knox County. Currently, there is substantial erosion occurring in Collier Preserve due to a stormwater outfall routing water from W. Emory Road through the property, Evans said.
This not only creates an eyesore, but there is concern the erosion will continue and compromise the walking path through the park. Flows from this outfall need to be slowed and the area needs to be graded to better control these excessive flows.
UTK has received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study a new type of stormwater control that appears to be a perfect solution for Collier Preserve. Called a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance, these systems use a series of pools and rock weirs to slow the water, allow infiltration and maintain a stable channel.
Abbey Harris, deputy communications director for Knox County, contributed to this report.