KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville leaders are working to redesign The Cradle of Country Music Park, located in the downtown area near the intersection of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive. Part of the plan calls for replacing trees with art, and it has raised concerns among some city residents.
Right now, many city residents call it a pocket of nature next to one of the city's busiest intersections. The plan calls for five trees to be cut down and replaced with some artwork. Leaders said 12 existing trees would be preserved and nine new trees would be planted.
"I feel like you could put art anywhere, so what's the purpose of tearing down mother nature?" said William Borden, a resident in the city.
The process to redesign the park started around 8 years ago and since then, more than 100 artists submitted proposals to fill the park. Some of their projects were funded after organizers picked winning designs.
The city said they plan to use the space for small concerts and public events.
"I think we can have the trees and we can have the art," said Seema Singh, the councilwoman for the 3rd District. "The park is called Cradle of Country Music. We also can have respect for our great history in Knoxville of country music. That's also an area where there was a lot of Black, African-American music. I think we can incorporate all of these things."
The park is around a half acre large and some locals said they were wondering why the trees had to be cut down for more art to be there.
"Always against tearing down trees if at all possible, but I'm also very much interested in supporting the art of Knoxville. And so, ideally, a place could be found where you could do both without tearing down the trees," said Brian Worley, the owner of a nearby store.
Singh proposed the city council delay the project by six months so they could find a compromise, keeping the trees while also finding a place for the art.