News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Meadow Creek Park and the man behind its master plan is a perfect match for the Town of Monterey.
Trevor Lee of Olin Studio is contracted with the town to complete the long term outlook for the some 300 acres. Lee said his family history in Monterey is why he is passionate about the project.
“I grew up coming to Monterey to visit family in Cookeville and in Monterey starting when I was very young,” Lee said. “The reason for that was my father’s family has lived in the area for many generations. In fact, some of the first pioneers to the area.”
Lee said his family first traveled through the Cumberland Gap many years ago and settled in the area. Lee said because of this, he and his wife have a family farm and many family members in the area.
“My wife and I had the opportunity about three four years ago to purchase one of the family farms,” Lee said. “As my uncles and cousins began to get a little older, they decided they wanted to sell their property in Monterey, and it is about a 35 acre farm that my uncle owned and handed down from my cousin. But ultimately, it was owned by my great grandmother. She purchased the farm in 1920.”
Lee said the opportunity to work on the master plan arose while speaking with Monterey Depot Museum Operator Dale Welch. Lee said Welch, who is a relative to Lee, introduced him to Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary.
“So I scheduled an appointment with Rafferty just to get to know some of the things that he is working on and to offer up the services of my company Olin, landscape architects out of Philadelphia just to offer up our services should he need them,” Lee said. “If there was anything landscape or urban design related in the town that we could help with. We would love to do it. I would love to do it.”
Lee said he will be in Monterey Thursday to begin site visits and discuss what Monterey wants to accomplish. Lee said the master plan, which should be completed sometime in October, will help bring investors to the park.
Lee said right now, they are looking into more recreational activities, educational opportunities and highlighting the coal mining history of the area.
