Multiple properties in the city limits are looking to be spruced up to foster education and community-led efforts.
One of the wetland parks will be built behind Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary School and will feature trails, a rain and pollinator garden and a community garden with outdoor classroom.
Potter Lane will be the home of the second park and will contain an orchard, communal garden and educational spaces for learning about wetlands and their many moving parts.
The goals of installing the parks are two-prong; by rehabilitating the properties and turning the land into parks which embrace its natural state, it is believed it will lead to better management of flooding issues and also serve as a valuable education tool for children.
Further renovations which include a community orchard and gardens on Potter Lane is additionally funded by grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Both supplied $542,750 with a $39,250 match from the city.
Included in the orchard will be 100 locally grown fruit trees bearing apples, peaches, pears and plums. They will be planted near the uppermost area of the park. Ten planters will be provided for vegetables and freely accessible to the community once the construction of the park concludes.
The Potter Lane and Bobby Ray projects are funded as part of the ARP Stormwater Infrastructure Grant which is split 95/5, with the City of McMinnville only having to provide 5% of the necessary money for the rehabilitation of the properties. In total, the grant funded $530,000 and the city matched with $26,500.
Funding for the trees was awarded by the Tennessee Urban Farm and Forest Grant, which is a 50/50 match totaling $21,500. The city is expected to purchase the trees, craft the raised vegetable gardens and install 2,000 feet of irrigation pipes for the creation of drip irrigation and will be reimbursed 50% of the cost. Trees were planted in October and the community garden is expected to be planted next month on April 25.
A design for the Potter Lane park is currently being reviewed and is expected to be finalized and completed by May. Construction bids will be held shortly after in July of this year and construction would prospectively span from August to June 2026.
