By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Despite a heavy downpour Monday morning, a good-sized crowd was on hand for the dedication of the Atkins-Porter Botanical Garden, the first in Paris. The garden is located at 311 Jackson Street and is an ongoing project of the Historic Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Association.
The garden includes a variety of trees and plants, bricked walkways, a pavilion, benches, fencing, power and water.
In 2016, the Neighborhood Association purchased a dilapidated structure on the site and with neighbors’ contributions and in partnership with the City’s Preserve Paris Program, the structure was removed.
Association President Rachel Terrell said the project represents the first time a local neighborhood has worked with the city on the this type of project.
City Manager Kim Foster said, “I brag on this group all the time. This group saw a problem in the neighborhood and put their money where their mouth was. The city is thrilled to be a part of that. Kudos and hip, hip hooray. You guys did it. You saw a problem, had a vision and did something.”
Paris Vice Mayor Jackie Jones, who grew up in the Atkins-Porter Neighborhood, said, “This is a labor of love. Three years ago, when we were standing here watching the track hoe tearing the house down on this property, I thought this would just stay a vacant lot. I’ve never been so glad to be wrong. You’ve shown what a neighborhood can do.”
The USDA contributed funds to get the project going and Terrell noted, “The USDA has opened our eyes to how much that organization does.”
Joel Howard of the USDA noted, “We provided a small amount of seed money for your pavilion and your fencing and the rest was done with your labor.” He noted the USDA regional office represents nine counties “and Paris is probably the most progressive community in our area.”
Other agencies helping with the creation of the park included the Downtown Paris Association and BPU. The Association members also raised money through Helping Hand.
River Byrd has chaired the committee in charge of the project and he thanked all the volunteers who contributed and worked to create the garden. He noted a fundraiser for the project was the purchase of trees that were dedicated in memory of several local people: Gaines Hedges, Walt Peterson, Bill and Frances Wright, John and Ann Myers and Randy Bucy.
Although the original concept was for a community park, the Association soon found that it had an opportunity to create an educational venue to teach neighbors and the community about one of the neighborhood’s greatest assets, its plant life.
Most of the garden’s variety of plantings are native to the area. Visitors can learn what plants are in their backyard, schoolyard or nearby walking trails by studying them in the Atkins-Porter Botanical Garden. School groups, garden clubs and other groups are encouraged to make field trips to the garden.
Photo: Rachel Terrell addresses the crowd at the dedication. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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