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Oak Ridge awarded $6.88 million in DOE NRDA grants for Bissell and Solway park projects
Summary
The city announced two awards from a DOE natural resource damages assessment fund: a $3.6M Bissell Park project (grant $2.88M; match $720k) to remove a failing culvert, naturalize a creek and add greenway bridges, and a $3.25M Solway Park project (grant $2.6M; match $650k) to renovate boat‑ramp parking, replace the dock and improve accessibility; TDEC will administer the grants and contracts were expected to be executed in February.
John Hetrick (S8) told council the Department of Energy’s natural resource damages assessment (NRDA) program has awarded Oak Ridge two grants drawn from a $42 million DOE fund intended for communities impacted by DOE operations.
The first award covers improvements at Bissell Park: a $3.6 million project with $2.88 million in grant funds and a $720,000 city match. Project elements include removing a roughly 425‑foot culvert, naturalizing the creek, constructing two maintenance‑rated greenway bridges to retain pedestrian access, upgrading the main trail to greenway standards, and invasive plant removal and revegetation.
The second award funds Solway Park improvements with a project budget of about $3.25 million (grant $2.6M; match $650k). Proposed work includes renovating the boat‑ramp parking area, replacement and accessibility upgrades to the boat dock, accessible parking, an additional canoe/kayak launch, pier renovations and habitat stabilization.
Hetrick said TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation) will administer the grant program and the city expected to execute the grant contracts in February, begin design work with two design firms (one for each project), and then move to bidding and construction. He estimated design would take roughly a year.
Why it matters: The grants fund capital improvements to park infrastructure, public access and habitat restoration in two popular city parks; several project elements also improve accessibility for users with mobility impairments.
Next steps: Staff will finalize grants with TDEC, procure design firms, develop plans for bidding and construction and coordinate potential partners and match sources.
