Boat speed an issue at Riverfront Park
City officials have said new regulations could be on the horizon for boaters or jet-skiers at Riverfront Park.
Although there is a no-wake zone already in place at the boat ramp, officials said they would like to invite a member from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to a future meeting to help them understand how best to cope with wake issues both at the park and surrounding shorelines.
Most officials attending a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee Friday said they don’t want any potential regulations to become too strict, which they said they believed would limit use at the park.
The issue surfaced due to noticeable wake at areas surrounding the no-wake zone, where there are a number of residences.
Officials initially talked about asking residents whether the problem is significant enough to warrant more regulations, but ultimately said they intended to invite TWRA to a future meeting first.
According to Mayor Royce Davenport, who is not on the committee but who attended Friday, the issue has surfaced informally between members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
“There have been reports and observations on the Barren Fork River of excessive speeds. Some of the aldermen do live on the river and they have witnessed the wake damage of the speed,” Davenport said.
Officials also said they are concerned about erosion and the city’s water supply, which originates near the dam at Pepper Branch Park.
In other matters, committee members approved a bid to supply heating and air at a building at Rocket Ball Park for about $3,500 and discussed the potential for corporate sponsorship of some of the play features of the new outdoor pool.