KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Officials opened a temporary river access point Wednesday for kayakers and canoeists while they wait for the construction of the new Suttree Landing Park.
The park is currently under design as part of the South Knoxville Waterfront project.
Located at 929 Langford Ave., the temporary put-in/take-out is open to paddlers through the summer season daily from dawn till dusk.
Although the Knoxville Community Development Corp. still owns the five-acre property it acquired in 2005, the city leased a portion to access the river.
To save costs for the temporary access, the City Public Service Department coordinated inmates from the Knox County Work Release Center to clean up the property.
The portion of the property that's open provides parking access for approximately 10 vehicles next to the river launch area.
The city expects construction of Suttree Landing Park to begin in 2013. Amenities will include a river walk, children's play area, arboretum, wetlands area, boat dock and ramp, and open space.
The park is named for "Suttree," a novel about a man who fishes the Tennessee River. It was written by Cormac McCarthy, who grew up in South Knoxville.
