The essence of this petition is preferably to shut down the expansion of the marina. OR maybe a compromise that would reduce the expansion, keep the quietness, give access to water for the animals and protect their habitat. My concern is that there is no compromise that would do this without public input. In addition, there was no environmental impact study and no consideration of all of the traffic both on the water and the roads around the park. It all seems to have been hidden under the guise of COVID or other things like money.

Link:https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-concord-park-for-tennesseans-the-animals

If you have been in Concord Park, you would have seen signs saying, “Property of Sun Life Marinas,” a large conglomerate of large marinas. As I understand it, the current Concord Marina had an option to expand their lease. The expansion came before TVA, and TVA denied it because the additional docks and slips would have extended too far out in the water. A few weeks later after another meeting with TVA (not announced to public), it was approved. There was no public input! I sent an email to TVA disagreeing but not sure it went anywhere.

I’m in this park couple times a day. I run, walk, and hike there with my dog; and I keep an eye on the park as a park volunteer for the park employees and report to the sheriff on situations. Here are some of the issues:

• Too many water craft late in the day causing 3+ feet waves and erosion. Kayaks and Jon boats in trouble.
• Underage drinking and drugs frequently. No sheriff presence in Concord.
• There is speeding on roads in and around the marina as well as vandalism as noted in the paper a few months back.
• Some speeding around the marina has been DUI as noted by several residents. The results have been noted by dead animals where the speed is 15 mph.
• The additional boat slips at least $300 each would generate $30,000 per month for 100 slips (I expect it is more). That is at least $360,000 per year from the elite. The rich gain and the common folk lose.
• The quietness of the park is sold for money. Many people come to the park for a quiet walk, hike, family picnic, etc. Solitude not noise! The park will be more crowded than the local dog park.
• This park has lots of wildlife: deer, turkey, foxes, albino skunks (which are rare), one which was killed on Northshore last year, and lots of turtles who use the park for their breeding ground (Quachita Map turtle, Eastern Mud turtle, snapping turtles, and occasional rare Eastern box turtle). Habitat/trees will be destroyed. Our legacy is being destroyed for money.
• The weeds and grass are over 12 inches high in places where the new tenant is planning to expand. Tenant not looking out for this park yet.

My children grew up playing tennis and golf, running, and fishing in this park. Looks like it will only be for rich families. Finally, if the sheriff has not been around for the other problems, how are we going to expect it now? Must have been other places to expand or place the marina. Why should we give up our tranquility and green space for someone’s pocketbook?