A new construction phase is underway at Fulton-Hill Park in Morristown, with crews paving the gravel drive that climbs the hill and adding parking, including handicap spaces, at the top of the hill. The work also includes a concrete staging area next to the existing sidewalk for events and a concrete pad laid for a future pavilion.
According to the City of Morristown - Government, the projects are meant to enhance usage of what the city calls its newest park. The site at 345 East 6th North Street is identified by Visit Morristown, TN, which provides the park's contact information. The city's Facebook post is cited in the project update.
A Hilltop With Deep Roots in Black History
The work is taking place as Morristown College history remains a subject of local documentation. Black in Appalachia documents an ongoing Morristown College materials project.
The park's name and the history discussed around it are part of the broader context surrounding the site.
From Blighted Campus to Public Park
Fulton-Hill Park is now an active public site, and construction work continues there.
The park's design and history are part of the broader context surrounding the current work.
A Bell Returns Before the Bulldozers Arrive
The new construction work follows closely on the heels of another preservation milestone. In July, the historic 1887 Morristown College Bell was officially returned and reinstalled at Fulton-Hill Park, as reported by the Citizen Tribune. The bell is associated with Morristown College.
The new paving and parking are also arriving as the park hosts public events. Fulton-Hill Park hosts the Chrome on the Colonnades car show and the Kids Fun Fair and Bike Parade, according to MyMorristown.com. The city schedules multi-departmental programming at the Great Lawn and Colonnades throughout the year, while the current work includes concrete staging areas and paved access.
Part of a Broader Parks Investment
The Fulton-Hill work comes as Morristown pursues a wider, long-term vision for its park system. In August, the city hosted a Parks Master Plan Open House in collaboration with design firm Pape-Dawson to gather public input for a 10-year comprehensive parks and recreation plan, per MyMorristown.com's earlier reporting.
That planning effort runs alongside other major capital projects across the city. In January, Morristown leaders moved forward with $3.4 million in planned capital upgrades for the 50-year-old, 142-acre Frank Lorino Park, according to a WATE 6 News report. These projects provide broader context for the Fulton-Hill work.
Another pavilion is planned for Fulton-Hill Park in the future, though the concrete pad now being poured is laying the groundwork ahead of that structure's construction. The total capital budget for this development phase and the expected completion timeline for the pavilion have not been detailed publicly.
