Neighborhood Parks

Parks are open year-round from dawn until dusk.

Park Name	Location	Available Facilities	Pictures
A.K. Bissell	Oak Ridge Civic Center	Playground, Picnic Shelter, Performance Pavilion, Commemorative Walk, Friendship Bell, Walking Trail
Big Turtle	Oak Ridge Turnpike (West End)	Playground, Softball Field, Soccer Field, Practice Soccer Field, Picnic Shelter
Briarcliff	Briarcliff Rd and Deerfield Rd	Practice Soccer Field, Playground
Carl Yearwood	Bus Terminal Road	Softball Field, Picnic Shelter, Skate Park, Disc Golf
Cedar Hill	Outer Drive and Michigan Ave.	Playground, Open Turf Area, Basketball Court, Softball Backstop, Walking Trail, Picnic Shelter
Elm Grove	Tennessee Ave. and Taylor Rd	Playground, Basketball Court, Open Turf Area, Walking Trail
Elza Gate	Oak Ridge Turnpike (East End)	Trailhead for Worthington Cemetery Trail and Melton Lake Greenway
Highland View	Highland View Drive and West Outer Drive	Playground, Picnic Shelter
LaSalle	LaSalle Rd	Soccer Field, Practice Soccer Field, Open Turf Area, Playground
Melton Lake	Melton Lake Drive	Picnic Shelter, Playground, Boat Ramp, Volleyball Court
Milt Dickens	Oak Ridge Turnpike (East End)	Playground, Soccer Field
Pinewood	Bus Terminal Road	Softball Field, Soccer Field
Scarboro Community Center	Carver Ave.	Playground, Tennis Court, Basketball Court, Practice Softball Field
Solway Park	Edgemoor Road	Picnic Area, Boat Ramp, handicapped accessible fishing pier

Special Parks

Disc Golf Courses

Greenways in Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Greenways project is an effort to weave natural corridors through the City to community resources such as parks, schools, cultural centers, shopping areas, and areas of empolyment. Oak Ridge has dedicated 11 greenways to date and plans to continue the network into a system of trails, walkways, and bike trails.

Haw Ridge Park

Located on Edgemoor road east of Solway park, Haw Ridge is an excellent park for walking, running, bicycling, and horseback riding. The 780 acre park was donated to the City of Oak Ridge in 1972 by the Department of the Interior for recreational use. The park is closed on TWRA hunt days. For more detailed information about the park including trail maps and photos, please check out the Friends of Haw Ridge website at the link below. Also below is a listing of wildflowers that can be found at Haw Ridge Park as well as a map to locate them.

Skate Park at Carl Yearwood Park

The Oak Ridge Skate Park located at Carl Yearwood Park was originally proposed by the City Youth Advisory Board and local residents in the late 1990s. The park opened in 1999 with all wooden ramps, which served the site for several years. Recently, the YAB and the Recreation Department invested $25,000 to upgrade the park with a concrete bank, grind ledges, plaza box, kicker ramp, skate bench, and two steel grind rails. The park is open dawn to dusk. Helmets are required and additional protective equipment is strongly recommended for participation. Skate boards and rollerblades only in the park area, no bicycles allowed. Play it safe!

All donations are tax-exempt and all funds will only go to benefit the skate park. We appreciate donations of any amount! For more information, contact Matt Reedy, 425-3450.

Walking Trails

Trail Name	Location	Other Information	Pictures
Fitness Trail	A. K. Bissell Park	This trail, 1.23 miles, is located in the central city park and is open year-round to the public. The trail is lighted until midnight each evening.
Elm Grove Park Walking Trail		Approximately .4 mile in length, the walking trail in Elm Grove Park was completed in 1996.
Cedar Hill Park Walking Trail		Approximately .4 mile in length, this walking trail totally encircles the park and is a tie-in with the Cedar Hill Greenways project

Greenbelt Districts

The City of Oak Ridge Zoning Ordinance 9.01 section G, Greenbelt Districts, shall be used to enhance the atmosphere, beauty, and well being of the community by preserving parcels so designated, as nearly as practicable, in their natural state. City council approval is required for municipal, state or federal uses, such as right-of-way easements for electric transmission lines, pipe lines, or roadways. There are, however, certain uses that are permitted within a Greenbelt District.

Permitted Principal Uses:

Greenbelt Districts shall be used to enhance the atmosphere, beauty, and well-being of the community by preserving parcels so designated, as nearly as practicable, in their natural state.

Permitted Accessory Uses:

1. Hiking or walking to enjoy the natural beauty.
2. Cleared and marked walking trails (to be approved by the Recreation Department).
3. Operations that are accepted practice of forestry science as necessary to maintain safety and public value in its natural state.
4. Signs marking trails, or regulatory signs.
5. Noncommercial gardens of proximate lot owners, subject to annual approval of the City Manager. In no case shall trees be cut to provide additional garden area.

Uses Requiring Approval of City Council:

Municipal, state, or federal uses, such as right-of-way easement for electric transmission lines, pipelines, or roadways. A public hearing shall be required prior to City Council approval of each municipal, state, or federal use in the Greenbelt District. Prior to each approval (and following the public hearing), the City Council shall find that each use will promote the general well-being of the community and will have no material adverse effect upon the district in which it is located.

Prohibited uses in Greenbelt Districts:

• Operation of a motorized vehicle.
• Dumping of domestic household garbage, yard rubbish, or other materials.
• Cutting of trees or shrubs by landowners or contractors.
• Unauthorized gardening.
• Camping or camp fires.
• Hunting.
• Removal of trees, flowers, or other material from area.