City of Kingsport earns $1.85 million in state grants for Brickyard Park bridge
The City of Kingsport has been awarded a $1.85 million state grant to support the construction of the Brickyard Park pedestrian and bicycle bridge to increase accessibility to the park and connect it with downtown.
Kingsport earned the grant through the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) Transportation Alternative Program (TAP).
“This TDOT grant award means that the bridge project is moving forward,” said Lesley Phillips, transportation planner. “The state investment confirms the potential of the overall development to improve the City of Kingsport. We appreciate the support of state, local and community leaders for this impactful pedestrian safety infrastructure project.”
Brickyard Park’s current and future amenities include a four-field baseball and softball complex; Miracle Field, which is designed for youth and young adults with mental and physical disabilities; all-accessible playground; bicycle pump track; expanded Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park; public greenspace; a housing community and more. On the north end, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to access downtown Kingsport’s many parks, businesses, retail shops, restaurants and residences.
The bridge’s location also is convenient to access the Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) facility, an extensive sidewalk system connected to State Route 126 (Wilcox Drive) and the Kingsport Greenbelt; a nine-mile linear park that connects residential neighborhoods, traditional parks, downtown, commercial districts, schools and activity centers.
“The Brickyard Park bridge will immensely improve pedestrian safety and connectivity within the city,” said Phillips. “It also will have a positive effect on the local economy by providing an essential link between neighborhoods and downtown jobs and amenities. This project is vital to fuel growth through accessibility.”
The TAP grant is intended for the construction phase of the pedestrian safety bridge project. Currently, city officials are using TDOT’s Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), which is 80% funded by the federal government and 20% by local government, to cover the preliminary costs of the project.
Construction is estimated to cost $3 million. Funds from the state will pay a portion of the cost for the project, and the City of Kingsport will provide the remainder.