A Greenbelt bridge located by 214 Lynn Garden Dr. will be temporarily closed while repairs are being made, beginning immediately.
The city will be making repairs to one of the bridge’s abutments to fix the undermining found there during an inspection by Mattern & Craig. City staff are currently working with contractors to determine a timeline for the needed repairs.
For more information, please call 423-229-9545.
The 13th annual Racks by the Tracks Festival and SPF 10K and 5K road races will be held on Saturday, September 25. In preparation for the festival, Clinchfield Street from West Center Street to Press Street will close on Friday, September 24, beginning at 2 p.m. All lanes of traffic will be closed and will remain closed for the duration of the event on Saturday evening.
In addition to the Clinchfield Street closure, several road closures will occur on Saturday for the SPF 10K & 5K road races, starting at 9 and 10:30 a.m. respectively.
Road closures will start around 7 a.m., the downtown area will be accessible until the beginning of the race, then expect temporary delays as police officers work vehicles through these areas as it is safe to do so. The affected streets include but are not limited to:
Please see the attached map for the race route.
Customers wanting to visit downtown Kingsport businesses during this time are asked to use caution as they approach the closures listed below:
Road closures for the race will be lifted at the conclusion of the final race.
We ask all vehicle traffic traveling in downtown Kingsport during this time be extra vigilant for runners. For more information, please contact Kristie Leonard at 423-224-2821 or KristieLeonard@KingsportTN.gov.
The winning storm drain art entries have been chosen. After receiving numerous entries, the Stormwater Department has selected five winners.
Meet your winners:
Each of the winners will receive $100 and paint to bring their art to life. The artists will start painting this week and will finish within the next month as weather and time allow. To follow along with the progress of the storm drain art, check out and like the Kingsport Public Works Facebook page. The public is encouraged to check out the drains, both in progress and when complete, and snap their own photos of their favorite drain.
Sponsors for the contest this year include Barge Design Solutions, LDA Engineering, Mattern & Craig and Now or Never Tattoo Gallery.
What is Stormwater?
As Kingsport grew, the ground became covered with asphalt, concrete and buildings. Without realizing it, an important part of the water cycle was disturbed. Instead of rain naturally filtering into the ground, it flows over roofs, driveways and streets as stormwater. Stormwater can pick up pollutants and transport them into local waterways via the storm drain system. Pollutants include everyday items like pesticides or fertilizers in our yards, oil in our cars, and even soap. When introduced into the waterway, pollutants have a harmful effect on aquatic life and the health of our rivers.
For more information on stormwater in Kingsport, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.
Kathy Millhorn Hawk will be the new featured artist in the City Hall Gallery’s upcoming exhibit and sale, opening on September 28. The gallery show, entitled “God’s Canopy,” will showcase a collection of monotype prints and pastels featuring the outdoors, including landscapes and flowers.
Hawk, a Kingsport native, is a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a B.S. and M.A. in Art Education. During her 30-year career as an elementary art educator, she maintained an active role in local visual arts programs through teaching, volunteering and participating in many exhibitions. Over the past 40 years, Hawk has been associated with the Kingsport Art Guild in many capacities. She has experience in calligraphy, watercolor, plein air pastels and monotype printmaking. Hawk’s work can be found in collections throughout the region and is also represented in the southeast and northwestern United States. Locally, her art may be seen at the Renaissance Center Gallery and the Downstairs Gallery at Hawksnest by appointment through murphawk@gmail.com.
“I have always been attracted to the outdoors, particularly flowers and trees, and feel rejuvenated with each new season,” said Hawk. “Each of us has been blessed by God to live on this beautiful earth, and we should be mindful, good stewards of it. My hope with this exhibit is to share a love of travel through my expression of the outdoors and bring this same joy to its many viewers.”
The “God’s Canopy” exhibition and sale will be on the first floor in the City Hall Gallery at 415 Broad Street from September 28 to November 29 on weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. A portion of the art sales will go to the Golden Brush Awards sponsored by the Kingsport Art Guild, which is awarded to selected area high school seniors planning to major in art at the college level.
For additional information regarding the art show, please contact the Office of Cultural Arts at 423-392-8414.
Instructor Elena Corradino will be teaching a hands-on class about how to use the exciting and trending art medium of resin.
Students will learn techniques to create their own abstract resin coasters, crafting nine beautiful and functional pieces of art over the course of the class, perfect for gifting. Each student will make different kinds of coasters, including alcohol ink coasters and resin mold coasters, and will leave being able to use resin safely on their own.
The instructor will go over safe mixing techniques and mistakes that can cost resin. The cost of the class is $98 per person and includes all materials. Participants will also be allowed to keep their respiratory mask and silicone mold.
The class will be held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 16 at The Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street, with a thirty minute break for lunch so participants can bring their own or eat local. There will be an additional class on November 13 at the same time and location.
Register online at www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414. Please note, online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class.
The city is contracting with Pavement Management Technology to perform an asphalt maintenance project in the Rock Springs area.
The project will take place on neighborhood streets connecting to Rock Springs Road between Rock Springs Valley Drive and Double Springs Road. Work will begin on September 22 with an estimated completion date of September 29. The contractor will be distributing door knockers the day before selected streets receive this maintenance effort.
Motorists should use caution in this area and seek alternate routes if possible during this time.
The city appreciates your patience during this road improvement process.
For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.
Kingsport Farmers Market will have a change of location on Saturday, September 25. The market will move to the Kingsport Chamber parking lot due to the annual Racks by the Tracks festival at the market pavilion.
Market hours will be changed to 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. on September 25. The best access to the market at the Kingsport Chamber parking lot will be on Roller Street/Press Street.
The air is getting cooler so now is the perfect time to visit Kingsport Farmers Market and get into the fall spirit. The market will have plenty of fall produce, crafts and goods, so come find the perfect pumpkin for your porch, some festive decor and so much more!
For more information, please visit kingsportfarmersmarket.org.
Kingsport will be celebrating the groundbreaking of the new Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park on September 24 at 4 p.m. The community at large is invited to attend and the local skating community has been asked to participate in the groundbreaking.
What: New Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park Groundbreaking Ceremony
Where: Brickyard Park
When: September 24 at 4 p.m.
Please direct any questions to 423-229-9413.
Adventure into the fun and unpredictable world of acrylic pouring with instructor Elena Corradino in a class provided by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts.
Those taking the class will learn everything there is to know about this exciting style of abstract art. Participants will make ten paintings of various shapes and sizes, and each will be different. During the class participants will learn five different types of pours, including a double flip cup and three ways to make “cells”. The class will discuss color theory and what makes abstract art pop and the instructor will go into detail about the materials, brands she uses and more. Everyone will leave knowing how to continue making acrylic art on their own and will take home some beautiful art.
The class will be held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 at The Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street. There will be a thirty minute break for lunch so participants can bring their own or eat local. The cost for the class is $85 per person and all materials will be provided.
Register online at www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414. Please note, online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class.
Instructor Elena Corradino will be teaching a hands-on class about how to use the exciting and trending art medium of resin.
Students will learn how to use resin safely with Pro Marine Resin. Each student will use molds and also explore the world of pigments to create beautiful pieces, while learning about how resin works and how to use it in a secure environment.
The cost of the class is $80 per person and includes all materials. The class will be held 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21 at Kingsport Renaissance Center, Room #230.
Register online at www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414. Please note, online sales will end 48 hours prior to the class.