The Third Creek Greenway

Submitted by redmondkr on Tue, 2006/08/22 - 11:01am.

KNS is reporting a project to restore the "meandering" nature to a portion of Third Creek along the greenway.  I ride this route as often as possible and applaud the city's efforts to improve the creek, although I can't help comparing the move to an individual buying a plasma TV when he can't come up with the rent check.

That aside, I ask all those readers more knowledgeable than I, to help me with some history of the Third Creek area.  What is that mill-like ruin at the bridge about a mile downstream from the Sutherland Avenue entrance? 



Third Creek miscellany

I agree that it's a cool project. My understanding is that the city got the money from TDOT specifically for projects like this, so, while there might be better uses for it, the money's uses are limited.

So I guess it's like getting money from your crazy uncle who'll only let you use it for the fancy TV, despite the fact that the landlord's barking at your door. Wink But this project isn't only aesthetic -- it's about our water quality too, which is important, no?

I've wondered about that ruin myself. It looks to me like the remains of an old bridge,  but the mill theory is interesting. Hmmmm ...

That was a spring house. As

That was a spring house. As recently as 5 years ago it had walls and roof and plenty of graffitti. I hop that whatever they are going to do on 3rd Creek Greenway they will replace the wooden bridges with concrete ones. The bridge beside the spring house has been the scene of many a nasty accident especially after a rain storm. I commuted for 3 years out to a job on Sutherland Ave from Downtown on that greenway.

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

redmondkr's picture
The spring house makes

The spring house makes sense.  I was swayed by the shaft-like pieces of steel that have survived.  I suppose they could have been part of a lifting apparatus.

Amen on that slick bridge!  The sharp curve at the eastern approach can be a killer, too, if it's wet or has mud on the path.

A large white onion, if eaten slowly, will remove the scent of vanilla ice cream from your breath. - Archie Campbell

Brian A.'s picture
Water quality

I'm skeptical that this project will do a great deal for "water quality," but just  about anything they do in that area should at least improve the appearance of the creek.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

A good project, but it will take time

I guess the long-term effects of this effort will be worthwhile, and it is especially good that invasive ornamentals will be replaced with native plants. But I'm afraid that the initial results of the work will probably be butt-ugly for a year or so after the area around the creek is totally denuded of all vegetation to recreate the channels. (Good-bye, shade.) I hope people don't raise holy hell when they realize this.

redmondkr's picture
I have discovered that the

I have discovered that the removal of "invasive ornamentals" lasts about three days here at Casa Redmond.  I don't think it will matter if the creek banks are denuded enough to resemble Baghdad, within a week there will be a mimosa and some kudzu sprouting there.  Maybe we need to take a cue from our friends at Chattanooga and get some goats - just not the one they're trying to send to the Senate.

A large white onion, if eaten slowly, will remove the scent of vanilla ice cream from your breath. - Archie Campbell

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