Greenways Oak Ridge -- details

GreenwaysOakRidge.org

Greenways concept

The Oak Ridge Greenways project is an effort to weave natural corridors through the City to community resources such as parks, schools, cultural centers, shopping areas, and areas of employment. The greenways are founded on three principles. First, where possible, the greenways follow natural corridors such as floodway zones or existing right-of-ways thus reducing conflicts with private land holdings. Second, the greenways are conceived as interconnected loops. Finally, the greenways are conceptually designed to connect those areas and resources which are of value to Oak Ridgers and which distinguish Oak Ridge as a special place in which to live. These areas include the striking natural landscape of the city, its neighborhoods, schools, parks, cultural facilities, and places of work and commerce.

Greenways history and organization

In July, 1992, Oak Ridge City Council authorized a citizens group to create a concept for City greenways. The task force was to determine the need, feasibility, and funding strategy for a system of greenways in Oak Ridge. A formation meeting was held in August, 1992, with area residents and representatives from the City and conservancy groups. Over the next year, numerous volunteers developed a greenways report. A Task Force Report (pdf) was presented to City Council in September, 1993. The Council adopted the report by unanimous vote with resolution 9-154-93. A state grant of $8,000 was used to open the Cedar Hill trail on September 18, 1994.

The Greenways committee consists of a dozen or so volunteers, with additional assistance from neighborhood groups, clubs, civic organizations, and the City. The Greenways committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 pm in the Craft Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Guests are welcome.

See D. Ray Smith's Oak Ridger articles on history of Oak Ridge Greenways: Oct 19, 2010 Oct 26, 2010 Nov 10, 2010

Greenways projects

              Greenways Oak Ridge 
    Greenway            Length(miles)  Status
    -------------------------------------------
    Cedar Hill            2.5          OPEN, completed 1994
    Melton Lake           5.7          OPEN (5.7), completed 4/12
    Emory Valley          3.2          OPEN (3.2), completed 8/05
    Pine (Elm) Grove      1.3          OPEN, completed 1994
    Turtle Park           0.8          OPEN, completed 11/98
    Gallaher Bend Rd      2.3          OPEN, completed 12/97
    North Boundary       14.0          OPEN, completed 3/00
    South Hills           0.8          OPEN, complete 1999
    Worthington Tract     0.8          OPEN, complete 1999
    Wildflower Trail      0.8          OPEN, complete 4/26/02
    Wheat District Trail  1.2          OPEN, complete 2007
    Black Oak Ridge      13.7          OPEN, 2017   BORCE
                         47.0 miles OPEN as of 10/2012
	     
    Tuskegee Drive        0.9          approved, awaiting construction
    Jackson Crossing      1.0          approved, awaiting construction
    Old Bethel Valley Rd  4.5          approved, deferred 9/11/01

    MLG Phase IV          2.2          OPEN, complete 2012 map
    CSX greenway          4.7          proposed rails-to-trails map
    East Fork Poplar Cr   2.3          completed 2019 (CVTA info)
    ED-1                               proposed
    Woodland/Downtown                  proposed

    Ernie's Creek                      in our dreams
    Mississippi                        in our dreams
    Haw Ridge                          exisiting 28+ miles  bike/hiking trails
    North Ridge Trail                  exisiting  7.5+ miles hiking trail

Greenways Oak Ridge in the news

In August 1996, the City began considering DOE's offer of the Gallaher Bend Rd (west of Clark Center Recreation Park) as a Greenway trail. Also, being considered is the North Boundary patrol road.
May 1997 Oak Ridger article describing new Gallaher Bend greenway and December 1997 dedication.
July 1997 Oak Ridger article describing Oak Ridge greenways project.
September 1997 Oak Ridger article on $125,000 grant for phase II of Melton Lake Greenway.
June 1998 Oak Ridger article on Melton Lake Greenway dedication.
August 1998, Bob Ogg dedication
August 1998 article on $303,000 Phase III award for Melton Lake Greenway.
July 1999 article on grant for greenway along Emory Valley Road.
September '99 greenways articles: article1 and article2 and article3 in Oak Ridger along with a map
March 2000 North Boundary Greenways dedication
June 12, '00 -- construction continues on phase II of Melton Lake greenway
April 26 '02 -- wildflower greenway dedication
Community link Greenways Oak Ridge
February 2003 News Sentinel article on Haw Ridge Park geocaches
May 14, '03 Oak Ridger article on Haw Ridge trail school
October 16-17, '04 Secret City Hiking Days (poster pdf)
April 14, 2005 Black Oak Ridge Conservation easement article
August 9, '05, $650K grant for phase IV of Melton Lake Greenway, Oak Ridger article
Oct 22, 2005, Emory Valley Greenway dedication, Oak Ridger article
July 19, 2007, North Ridge signs article
October 3, 2007, Black Oak Ridge Conservation easement opening, article

Do you know these facts? Oak Ridge city intern Sharon Ho-My recently collected information about the amount of sidewalk, greenway, trail and park space in Oak Ridge. The information was presented to the Environmental Quality Advisory Board. Amended by Tom Dunigan in 2008.

Sidewalks

Projected 1996 population: 27,742.
104 miles of sidewalk.
3.6 miles sidewalk per 1,000 people.

Greenways and trails in OR

Cedar Hill Greenway -- 2.5 miles.
Emory Valley -- 3.2 miles
Pine (Elm) Grove Greenway -- 1.3 miles.
Gallaher Bend Greenway -- 2.3 miles.
Melton Lake Greenway -- 5.7 miles.
South Hills -- 0.8 mile.
Worthington Tract -- 0.8 mile.
Big Turtle Park -- 0.8 mile.
North Boundary trail -- 14.0 miles
Hiking/biking/running trails at Haw Ridge Park -- 28+ miles.
Black Oak Ridge -- 11.7 miles
North Ridge Trail -- 7.5 miles.
UT Arboretum -- 8+ miles
Total distance -- 85 miles.
2.2 miles per 1,000 people.

Area of Open Spaces and Greenbelts in Oak Ridge

Parks -- 1,282 acres.
UT Arboretum -- 260 acres.
Greenbelts -- 1,336 acres.
Total area -- 4,877 acres.
176 acres per 1,000 people.

Greenways maps

City's greenway maps
Greenways trail maps available in hardcopy (2003)
Hike 'em all, become a Secret City Trekker
Google map of greenway trailheads and trails (road/photo/topo) 11/2/07, or iPhone map
or download gw.kmz for Google Earth
leafletjs Greenways map
TCWP North Ridge Trail (pdf) or older B&W map (11KB)* pre-dates greenway
UT Arboretum walking trails or google trail map and weather station and its weather data
Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement
Melton Lake Greenway phase IV map 2009
CROET Heritage Center greenway map 2013
older maps
City's current (4/13) greenways map (pdf, 3 MB) or older greenways (155KB) or pdf (237K) June, '00
Map of planned greenway corridors (61KB) '93
Cedar Hill (101KB)* or newer (7/99) version (333KB)
Pine Grove (143KB)* (aka, Elm Grove)
Emory Valley (16KB)* 2005 asphalt
Haw Ridge (2013) (proposed, more info)
Gallaher Bend (8KB) 12/98
Big Turtle Park (284KB) 7/99 and trail notes
North Boundary (33KB) 3/08

related info

visit us on facebook
GPS data for Oak Ridge Greenways trailheads and junctions (latitude/longitude) plus links to road and topo maps
Also see Ken Warren's tour guide, Dan Robbins bird list (2014), and Kris Light's photos
a bit of history of Emery Road and the Emory Valley greenway (2/06) and D. Ray Smith's Emery Road history, also see the 1890 TN topo maps

How you can help

The success of the greenways depends on volunteers. If you have suggestions for greenways or can help with trail maintenance (adopt a greenway), please contact a greenways member or the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks office. If a greenways trail needs some maintenance work, please fill out this maintenance request form.