Reimagining a Riverside Legacy
Lakeshore Park is an 185-acre public park located along the Tennessee River in Knoxville, TN. Jointly managed by the City and the nonprofit Lakeshore Park Conservancy (LPC), the park features four miles of walking trails, numerous athletic fields and sporting facilities, playgrounds, event spaces, and open green areas, as well as expansive views of the river and the Great Smoky Mountains beyond. Lakeshore Park is Knoxville's most-visited public green space, drawing approximately one million annual visitors. Once the grounds of a state-owned mental health institute, the LPC revitalized the land into a public sanctuary in 1996. In 2017, NBW was invited to update the Landscape Master Plan, crafting a vision that honors the park’s rich history while addressing the community's evolving needs. Embracing the site's historical significance, the Master Plan integrates the past with its ecological and cultural future. Extensive research and collaboration with local stakeholders, historians, and environmental experts informed a design that respects the land's legacy and fosters a thriving, sustainable environment.
Completed in April 2020, the Overlook Plaza and Esplanade feature a grand central plaza aligned with the historic Administration Building, creating a harmonious dialogue between past and present and providing an expansive, welcoming public space where community members can gather, reflect, and engage with the environment. Flanked by an arcing pedestrian esplanade and an allée of native black gum trees, the plaza draws visitors toward its heart, guiding movement along a central axis that descends gracefully toward the Tennessee River. This pathway orchestrates stunning views of the surrounding mountains, inviting moments of reflection and connection with nature.
Phase II of the Master Plan, initiated in 2022 and opened to the public in August 2024, expands Lakeshore Park's offerings with state-of-the-art baseball fields, versatile pavilions, an innovative playground, and expanded parking facilities. A distinctive sculptural mound, rising 35 feet above the surrounding landscape, provides visitors with enhanced panoramic views and unique terrain to explore, promoting physical activity and interaction with the landscape. Sustainable practices were integral to this phase, with green infrastructure solutions prioritized to address stormwater management and preserve the park's natural beauty.
The park functions as a living landscape, providing sanctuary for nature and the community. By fostering these connections between people, place, and nature, the design ensures that Lakeshore Park remains a cherished public space for generations to come.
