Splash Pad Project Progressing, Grant Received For Eiffel Tower Upgrades

By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The city of Paris’ Splash Pad project is moving along, with the contract approved and a meeting set for next week with involved engineers.
 
City Manager Kim Foster told the city commission at its Thursday evening meeting that the word of the contract was received this week. The project, which will be built at Eiffel Tower Park, is on schedule for spring 2020 completion, she said.
 
A Tourism Enhancement Grant in the amount of $43,203 also has been received for upgrades to the city’s Eiffel Tower. Foster said the total project cost will be $56,164 with the Henry County Tourism Authority providing approximately $6,500 of the required matching funds.
 
She said the Public Works Department will be assisting with sidewalk improvements and small stage additions. She said interpretive signage also will be designed to encourage patrons to visit other areas of the city while they are in Paris.
 
Meanwhile, the city’s project to provide sidewalks along Wilson Street and Patriot Avenue is progressing. Foster said preliminary design continues and city staff met with the engineer July 2 and walked the area to review the plans. “We will be meeting again July 19 with both school directors to further review the plans,” she said.
–The commission stood up and applauded the job that Paris-Henry Co. Chamber Director Travis McLeese did on last week’s Tennessee River Jam.  He said the event exceeded the expectations of organizers in terms of numbers of people who attended. He said the economic impact for Henry Co. is estimated at $1M.
 
In other business:
 
–The city commission forwarded a request from Tim Wigrau to rezone his property at 130 Abbott Lane to the planning commission. He is requesting it be rezoned from Planned Industrial to Planned Business. He is planning to develop a portion of his property for an assisted living facility.
 
–Upon recommendation of the planning commission, the city approved a request from Larry Bolding to allow him to acquire the dead end right of way at 109 Irish Street.
 
–Also on recommendation of the planning commission, the city approved rezoning property at the corner of West Wood and N. Irvine Street from commercial to residential. Yvonnia Williamson is requesting the zoning change to move a manufactured home on the property.
 
–The city referred a request for rezoning at 102 Fairview to the planning commission. Janet French wants it rezoned from R-1-M to commercial.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin