Demolition of G&R Automotive Becomes Fort Dickerson Park Entryway

Bell Construction begin demolition on G&R Automotive on Chapman Highway on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014 in Knoxville, Tenn. The demolition will allow for construction of a new entryway into Fort Dickerson Park. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

Crews began tearing down a building in south Knoxville to make way for a new entrance to Fort Dickerson Park. On Monday, the walls of the G & R Automotive building came down as part of the improvement project. The $1 million Fort Dickerson Roadway Realignment Project should be completed in spring 2015. This project will realign Fort Dickerson Road with Woodlawn Pike and includes about 475 feet of new two-lane road with sidewalk and signalization.  The removal of the building will allow more landscaping to the new Fort Dickerson Park entrance. The new entrance to Fort Dickerson Park will take its place on the southwest corner of Fort Dickerson Road and Chapman Highway. Fort Dickerson Park is part of the 1,000-acre Knoxville Urban Wilderness championed by Legacy Parks Foundation and is home to one of 16 earthen forts and battery positions that protected the City of Knoxville during the Civil War days.