The 100 Block of Gay Street is rapidly approaching completion, and as much as I love concrete, what really got me excited are all the planter spaces waiting for trees to be planted. Later that day, I was waiting for my wife at the corner of Wall and Gay, sweating profusely. It was HOT. Like many Knoxville summer days, it was tolerable in the shade, but direct sunlight was to be avoided. Alas, most of Gay Street was severely in short supply of shade. As I stood there getting sweatier and sweatier, I had a vision of paradise:
So what's it going to take for something like this to happen? I applaud the city for the great design of the 100 block, and for replacing all the limb-dropping Bradford Pears for more elegant maples on Union and Wall. But Gay Street is our showpiece, the main impression (aside from Market Square) that we leave on visitors. There are a few trees by the Bijou, and the 100 block will soon be shady. All I'm saying is let's start planning on getting a little more good shady green-ness in the middle. Who's with me?
Monday, July 12, 2010
trees please
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4 comments:
Hear, hear.
I also feel like Gay Street could do well by some more flowers. There are a few planters with flowers in them, but a few more could go a long way.
For about 30 seconds I could not tell your photo was 'shopped. Almost as good as your maps.
I think it would be awesome to plant Dogwood trees! We have a Dogwood Festival, but none are downtown. I know there are plenty around the rest of Knoxville, but they're so awesome. And, as far as I know, they don't break like Bradfords do.
MG, thanks for recognizing my mad photoshoppin' skillz.
Gexx, I think that's an excellent idea if the City Arborist thinks the limb thing would be OK with dogwoods. If not, we should put some in Krutch Park and other places where they wouldn't directly interact with parked cars.
I have mixed feelings about trees on Gay. I know I'm in the minority on this one. One of the things that concerns me is that the city is much better at planting trees than maintaining them. See the (now) two empty tree wells on Market Square, as well a numerous others around downtown.
Also, if you look at vintage pictures of Gay Street you won't see trees. You can pick out the facades that are still with us. But those are going to be obscured with the new plantings.
~m.
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