The city of Knoxville is placing Lakeshore Park into a conservation easement to ensure it remains a public park in the future.
The Knoxville City Council unanimously approved the decision at its meeting Tuesday. The Land Trust for Tennessee will hold the easement.
Tom McAdams, a member of the Lakeshore Park Board, said during the meeting that the conservation easement will help with fundraising effort for the Lakeshore Park Capitol Campaign. The campaign is trying to raise $25 million for the first phase of improvements to the park. About $16 million have been raised so far, McAdams said.
"What you've done tonight will help us with that as we can assure donors their contributions will permanently remain part of that," he said.
Construction began this week on the first phase of improvements, which includes adding two additional miles of walking trails, additional parking, converting a chapel into an open pavilion and more.
The city is holding a signing ceremony at Lakeshore Park on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m., where Mayor Rogero will sign the easement agreement with The Land Trust for Tennessee.