JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
During this month’s city meeting in Whitwell, Mayor Sandra Crabtree presented a $125,000 check awarded to the Board of Mayor & Commissioners by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC).
Mayor Crabtree explained that the week prior to the meeting, she attended a check acceptance ceremony held at Fall Creek Falls State Park near Tracy City. During the ceremony, members of TDEC, as well as SETD (Southeast Tennessee Development District), were present to award Crabtree the Local Park and Recreation Grant (LPRG) check, filling in for City Manager Lonnie Cleek.
Cleek himself explained the funds will go directly towards the city’s ongoing efforts to repaving the tennis court at Whitwell City Park, in addition to establishing a brand new basketball and pickleball court. The grant was last discussed during the community’s October meeting when he stated the smooth progress of the city earning the LPR grant.
Additionally, the board had approved for the authorization of utilizing grant funds for the planned basketball court and tennis court repaving back in September, the vote being decided under Resolution #275. Since the board’s awarding of the funds needed to help make both projects come to life, progress is further underway into welcoming the new additions to the town’s local park.