Memorial Park Waiting On TDEC Permit To Build On Small Wetland

Putnam County waiting on a permit from TDEC so they can begin building the Memorial Park set for Highway 70.

The delay in the park’s construction came after it was discovered a two-tenths of an acre patch of land is a low-grade wetland. Regulations require a 30-day public comment period before a permit can be issued. County Mayor Randy Porter said the gravel is in for the parking lot and field dirt is ready to begin work.

“After that period, then they lock it down, and then they issue the permit,” Porter said. “It’s a little bit of a long process. We started in July and hopefully if everything works out right, we’ll be able to get the permit at the end of October.”

The park will be located off of Highway 70 at the site of the former Doll Museum. The site now houses the county Veterans Services Office. Porter said the goal is to get the park open by March in time for the tornado anniversary.

“Weather could prevent that from happening,” Porter said. “If we was to have a really bad winter, we may not be able to make it by March. It may be April or May once we get into spring, but that’s our goal March right now.”

Porter said he hopes to have sod laid down and memorials honoring the 19 victims of the tornado built before the weather turns too cold. He said they could work around the weather in the winter to install benches.

“We did Hope Park that was down in the middle of a tornado zone, but they wanted it to be a nice, green space park where they can bring their kids and not remember everyday why,” Porter said. “It didn’t have anything in it to remember the tornado. This park is going to be if you want to go sit and remember your loved ones and that time, this is a nice green space to be able to do that.”

The park and the future memorials are dedicated to the lives lost during the March 3, 2020 tornado. Porter said the park will also have a veteran’s memorial.