Lakeland leaders have been pursuing improved connectivity through trails and walkways for several years, and a major milestone was reached on Thursday, Oct. 3. The Lakeland Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to design a new $1.3 million Scotts Creek Greenway project, which will be located on city park grounds off Memphis-Arlington Road.
Funded through a Surface Transportation Block Grant, the federal government will cover 80% of the project’s cost, with the city providing a 20% match. The greenway will cut through a largely forested area, linking Cool Springs Park to the city’s athletic fields, and will connect with a new trail within the Lakeland Town Square mixed-use development across Memphis-Arlington Road.
“This project is primarily on the athletic complex property,” explained Lakeland city engineer Emily Harrell while addressing the BOC. “There would be a bridge at Scotts Creek, maybe even two.”
While separate from the ongoing phase two development of the city’s athletic complex, the Scotts Creek Greenway is part of both the athletic-complex master plan and Lakeland’s newly developed transportation plan. The aim is to create seamless connections across various trail networks in the city.
“We have pockets of trails throughout the city,” Harrell said. “The goal is to make these connections so that the trails function as intended.”
Addressing concerns about potential traffic increases in Cool Springs, Harrell noted that the impact would primarily be from pedestrians passing through, not vehicles. Additionally, despite some speculation, she emphasized that it is unlikely people will park in Cool Springs to walk to the Athletic Park due to the significant distance. Parking at the Athletic Park is more than sufficient to meet demand.
