Fading into the background - Residents compliment beautification efforts along Highway 321

GATLINBURG - The cement-walled "canyon" that visitors and locals felt they were entering when approaching the city via the Highway 321 corridor has disappeared.

Camouflaged by a group of painters working under the direction of Murals & More of Franklin the low parapet walls now look like a handcrafted stone wall, and the tall retaining walls look like a natural rock face.

Beautification of the Highway 321 corridor is a result of residents' complaints about the ugliness of the highway-widening project.

As a result, the Tennessee Department of Transportation began working in March 2004 with The University of Tennessee to put together a Citizen Based Resource Team (CBRT) composed of a cross-section of people with different interests to come up with concepts to beautify the corridor.

The CBRT ultimately came up with the idea to blend the cement walls into the environment with paint, and beautify the corridor with landscaped medians.

Bob Miller, a spokesman for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a member of the CBRT, said, "We tried to pick a paint pallet that resembles the kind of rock you see in the area where there are cut rock faces. I was not a proponent of the painting originally, but I'm pleasantly surprised at how good the representation of stone blocks looks. I don't think 85 percent of the people zipping by notice that they're not genuine stone."

Miller's opinion is supported by business owners along the corridor who were not members of the CBRT.

Sherrill Crowe, owner of Reigning Animal Crafts, said quite a few of her customers have commented about the beautiful wall put up across the road from her shop.

"They ask who did the rock work," said Crowe. "They can't tell that it's not real rock, and I don't burst their bubble by telling them it's painted."

She went on to say, "Personally, I think it looks like rock. ... Just imagine what the landscaping will do for Highway 321."

Further down the road, Coffee Loft owner Kevin Tierney said the look is what he expected. "I'm pleased. Those big walls were a challenge, but with the blend of colors used, the walls visually just fall away. Knowing about the plans for the plantings that are to be put there, I know the colors will be a great background that won't compete against the flowers and shrubs."

Tierney added that locals who were skeptical about the painting concept have told him they are amazed at the way the walls now blend into the background.

Lee Mellor, owner of the Buckhorn Inn on Buckhorn Road, said the painting is a "terrific improvement."

"We had many guests say they were appalled at the concrete jungle, and some who have come back a year later are now commenting how much more attractive it is," Mellor said, adding her thanks to the city and CBRT members for their careful consideration in improving the corridor.

Marty Nicely, the city's recreation department director, said the cost of the project is covered by a $1.084 million state grant and matching funds of $350,000 from the city.

"We hope to bid out the landscaping project this summer, with the first phase of planting to begin after Sept. 1," Nicely said. He noted that placement of trees, shrubs, native grasses, vines, flowers and ferns will be approved by TDOT in consideration of sight lines from intersections, turn lanes and curves in the road.

Doug Blalock of Charles Blalock & Sons, which has the road contract, said, "We're working feverishly on the medians. ... We may be done (with the medians) by June 30 if all goes extraordinarily well." Final surfacing will take place after the median work is completed.

Click here - for the full Mountain Press article by Candice Grimm

Gatlinburg , Bear's Den , Bears Den , Smoky Mountains