STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
AWARDS
CITY OF JACKSON RECREATIONAL TRAIL GRANT FOR LIBERTY GARDEN PARK
(Nashville, TN-) In an awards ceremony on October 12, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee at War
Memorial Auditorium, Governor Bill Haslam, along with Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill and TDEC
Commissioner Bob Martineau presented the city of Jackson with a State of Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation grant. The TDEC grant of $100,000.00 for a
Recreational Trails Project will fund the removal, widening, and replacement from a
5’ asphalt walking trail to a 10’ asphalt walking trail at Liberty Garden Park on Channing Way.
Approval of the City of Jackson Recreation and Parks Department/Keep Jackson Beautiful
Commission grant application was approved by Jackson City Council in February 2016 where
the grant application for $125,020 requires an 80/20 match; the city match being $25,020.
Appreciative of the grant funding, Mayor Jerry Gist stated, “Liberty Garden Park is a model
example of a community pocket-park. As an active and well-utilized park, the asphalt trail is
an important connector to the community pedestrian way and sidewalks, expands the ease
of access to a recreational area, and improves neighborhood walkability.”
Keep Jackson Beautiful Coordinator Jodi Jacobs reflects, “Liberty Garden Park has been a
project of the Keep Jackson Beautiful Commission in partnership with Jackson Recreation and
Parks and with extensive, private community support. Liberty Garden Park is a living
memorial to 9/11. Dedicated in 2001, the Liberty Garden Park walking trail was constructed
in 2003, in-part by community sponsors. There are truly thousands of people who enjoy the
park for recreation and the walking trail is an integral part of the park use and activity.”
Tammy Buchanan, Keep Jackson Beautiful Commission Member and Chairperson for Liberty
Garden Park states, “One of the KJB Commission goals for Liberty Garden Park has been to
widen the walking trail to better support the high-volume of use by a very diverse, cross-
generation of people in the region. Over the last 15 years, several points of interest have
been added to the park- the State Certified Arboretum, Children’s Garden, and the Jackson-
Madison County Veterans Memorial “Freedom Plaza”. The walking trail is important to the
infrastructure and provides for access to the points of interest within the park. Through
enjoyable recreation, the grant supports continuation of Liberty Garden Park patrons to
spend time outdoors and engage in health, wellness, arts, sciences and education.”
Anticipated start date for construction on the walking trail at Liberty Garden Park is spring
2017.