KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A curved, wavy canopy will soon overlook a park at a bustling downtown intersection — marking the final steps before the Cradle of Country Music Park opens to the public.
The green space spans a little more than half an acre and for decades before construction began, small pieces of art decorated it. More recently, city leaders said they decided to start construction on the park after it grew sparse.
A concrete pier was finished a little while ago, practically stretching a nearby sidewalk into the park. It is located at the corner of Gay Street and West Summit Hill Drive, and the new canopy is being installed over it.
It is expected to become the city's largest and most expensive piece of public art, costing around $560,000 and designed by a Brooklyn, New York, firm named THEVERYMANY. In total, the Cradle of Country Music Park installation is expected to cost around $1.2 million, including sidewalk improvements and landscaping work.
The city also said it plans to plant nine new trees once the canopy is installed.
The park is expected to be used for a variety of public events and concerts. It is expected to be open to the public by the winter of 2024.