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2020's NEWS 2020     Baxter Amphitheater Nearly Complete Posted by: Rafferty Cleary - Monday, February 10, 2020 on Newstalk941 Construction of Baxter’s new amphitheater has nearly come to an end. Mayor John Martin said he’s hoping that the city can begin using the structure this spring. Everything is poured, as far as the dance pad out in front of the amphitheater, Martin said.  We’ve got stone around all the pillars, and it’s just a beautiful amphitheater.  I had a meeting this morning with a group out of Nashville.  We’re already talking about trying to put together a really big concert with a big name coming to Baxter once we get this done. Martin said the amphitheater sits between the city’s new Seminary Park and Baxter Park. We’re going to do sidewalks to connect all of that, Martin said.  We’ve already got a lot of sidewalks that’s been poured for the Baxter Seminary Park. The amphitheater construction started late last year.  The city will use a $75,000 State Department of Tourism grant to pay for the project more... Photo:  www.cityofbaxter.com       Baxter Amphitheater Construction On Track Posted by: Hannah Friel - Tuesday, April 14, 2020 on Newstalk941 Construction for Baxter’s amphitheater at Seminary Park is on schedule. Mayor John Martin said the $82,000 project should finish by this June. The county workers Parks and Recreation John Ross and his crew has done a tremendous job as far at their amphitheater, Martin said.  Of course everything shut down with the virus.  We’re building a new street building, we’re trying to get that done and move out of our existing building.  Everything is going well right now. City employees are preparing pads for an arch and ordering plaques to display Seminary Park’s history.  Martin said benches, lampposts, and a sidewalk connecting Seminary Park to the amphitheater will be added. The amphitheater’s construction began December last year.  Martin said the city used a $75,000 grant to fund the project. We had a opening concert planned in June to bring everything online along with our amphitheater.  But Jeanie Lee is working with us and getting ready to do our arch, Martin said. Martin said the opening concert has been postponed more... Update:  The Arch Is Back! Photo by Dimple Homes       Benches to be installed at Baxter Seminary Park Posted by: Paige Stanage - Thursday, June 11, 2020 on Hearld-Citizen.com with photo Baxter Mayor John Martin said crews will begin installing benches on the concrete pads in a week.  Upon completion, each concrete pad will have two benches with a lamp post in the center and plaques that detail the Seminary School history. Crews will begin installing benches at the Baxter Seminary Park in a week or so, said Mayor John Martin.  "We've poured all of the concrete pads," Martin said. "The plan is to put two benches on each one with a lamp post in the center.  And we're going to make plaques for each of the pads that have information about the historical Baxter Seminary School. "Then we're going to put up the Baxter Seminary archway at the front of the park, which is modeled after the original Baxter Seminary archway," Martin said. The project still needs donations for additional benches and lamp posts, Martin said. "Those donations could be a memorial for a loved one," said City Codes Inspector Bob Lane.  "You could donate money to purchase a bench and put it in memory of somebody." Baxter Beautification Chairperson Jeanie Lee said it would also be an opportunity for churches to sponsor a lamp post. "There's a lot of references in the Bible about 'the light'," Lee said.  "I think it would be neat if we had a couple of churches to donate for lamp posts for that sort of symbolism." For those who wish to donate or sponsor, contact Lee at 510-6630. The amphitheater, which is connected to the Seminary Park by sidewalks, is completed. "We were going to have a concert there this fall, but we're not sure with the pandemic," Martin said.  "We're just going to have to wait and see." By the time of completion, the whole project will include the park, amphitheater, a splash pad and possibly a farmer's market,  Lane and Martin said. "We have the vision for it," Martin said.  "We're excited for the completion of this whole project.  It will be great for Baxter." more... Update:  The Benches Have Arrived! Photo by Dimple Homes       Baxter To Submit Grant For Splash Pad & Farmers Market Posted by: Benjamin Armstrong - Thursday, July 16, 2020 on Hearld-Citizen.com Baxter will apply for a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant in August to build a splash pad and farmer’s market in Seminary Park. Baxter Mayor John Martin said the park upgrades will add to the appeal of Baxter and help fill job openings for the Portobello plant opening in the future. "We have four great schools, but the thing about it, people look at parks also," Martin said.  "Every municipality you have that is a big impact to your city.  People want to bring their kids to good places to enjoy the parks." Martin said the grant can be worth up to $1.5 million dollars. We applied for a Blue Cross grant last year, and we were in the running for that," Martin said.  "We were in the running for that, and they said they wanted us to reapply to that." The city recently completed construction of a new amphitheater and sidewalks for the park.&nsp; Martin said the new arch with three different historic venues that branch off from the sidewalks still is under construction. "We would love to see a splash pad, which we are going to do," Martin said.  "We want to see a farmer’s market go in our park.  We have plans to put benches down the side of the sidewalks going to the amphitheater along with some lampposts." Martin said the city will lay new grass in the area this fall   more...       The Baxter Seminary Park project received a $750,000 grant Posted by: Paige Stanage - Thursday, December 9, 2020 on Hearld-Citizen.com with photo The Baxter Seminary Park project received a $750,000 grant from The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation.  Construction is scheduled to begin next year and will be completed by the foundation’s build partner, Chattanooga-based PlayCore. "We just received word that we got the grant," said Mayor John Martin.  "We are really excited about it.  It includes all kinds of playground equipment, and different places to sit.  It'll be for those who are both young and old." The grant is for the construction of a "Thrive and Play" area, which is "an inclusive, multi-generational space," according to the foundation's release. "A pavilion, like a farmer's market pavilion, is also included with this," Martin said.  "We'll have to get with them (foundation) about where that will be and other details." Construction is scheduled to begin next year and will be completed by the foundation’s build partner, Chattanooga-based PlayCore. "With all the growth that we're seeing in Baxter with all the homes being built, this park will enhance that," Martin said. Nine other parks in the state received the grant. "Our mission at BlueCross is serving our neighbors, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our 75th anniversary than by giving Tennesseans more spaces to connect with one another and pursue healthy activities together," said Roy Vaughn, executive director of the BlueCross Foundation.  "We look forward to partnering with each of these communities to enhance and revitalize these spaces, providing new amenities for all residents to enjoy more...       Baxter Receives $750,000 Grant for Seminary Park Project Posted by: Ivan Fisher - Thursday, December 10, 2020 on Newstalk941 Baxter is one of nine cities in the state to get a $750,000 BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation grant. Mayor John Martin said it is unbelievable to have this grant for the Seminary Park Project, after the time and money spent on the city’s parks.  Martin said plans are already set for Seminary Park, and it will become one of the best parks in the area when the project is complete. "There’s going to be a lot of playground equipment, different parts of the park where people can walk," Martin said.  "Benches and all where you can relax and enjoy the park." Martin said there’s a pavilion included in this project, which he hopes could be used for a farmer’s market and other events. "I know there’s going to be at least four picnic tables under the pavilion," Martin said.  "So, we can use it for different things." Martin said the city will meet with BlueCross Blue Shield on December 18.  He said he expects work to begin on the park project in March 2021. "They’ll talk about how the park is going to be arranged," Martin said.  "All the plans are already set of what we’re doing with the park." Construction will be done by BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation partner, PlayCore.  PlayCore is based out of Chattanooga more... 2021     Baxter breaks grounds on new park Posted by: Lindsay Pride - Monday, March 26, 2021 on Hearld-Citizen.com with photo Baxter City Recorder Sharon Carlile, Putnam County Parks and Recreation Director John Ross Albertson, Putnam County Health Department Director Lisa Bumbalough, Putnam School Director Corby King, Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter and Baxter Mayor John Martin break ground on the new grant-funded Baxter park between Cornerstone Elementary and Baxter Primary schools Monday. Baxter broke ground on a new park Monday that will sit between the city's primary and elementary schools. "It's something people said we'd never have in Baxter," Mayor John Martin said. The mayor said they applied for a BlueCross BlueShield grant to fund the park a year ago but didn't receive it. "BlueCross said try again, and we tried again," Martin said. "This means a lot to our city." In addition to being between the Cornerstone Elementary School and the Baxter Primary School, the new park is next to the amphitheater and the new Reflection Park in memory of the five children from Baxter who died in the March 3, 2020 tornado. GameTime of Chattanooga is building the park, which will include a pavilion, picnic tables, fitness station, play area and swing area. Bernie Bowles of GameTime said it should take about two months to build the park. "We've got 10 of these to do," he said. "We have one in Woodlawn, Tennessee; and one in Paris, Tennessee. "Kids can play in eyesight of their parents," Bowles said of the connectivity of the park to the amphitheater. Baxter received a $750,000 grant from The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation in December for the project more... 2022     Plaques installed at Baxter Seminary Park Posted by: Megan Reagan - Saturday, January 8, 2022 on Hearld-Citizen.com with photo Laryssa Waller, Sharon Watts, and Jeanie Lee, Beautification Committee members, celebrate the donors who sponsored the benches and lampposts. Located behind them is the Upperman Home, a former president of the Seminary School.&nbs; Some members of the Baxter Beautification Committee gathered Wednesday to celebrate the installation of permanent plaques that commemorate the donors who made Baxter Seminary Park possible. Committee member Jeanie Lee said the work that has been done would not have been possible without the commitment of the various donors. The park - with green space, walkways and encircled seating areas - is an attempt to keep the "estately look" of the historical landscape that once hosted Baxter Seminary School. "A fire destroyed it, and the rest had to be condemned after so many years," Lee said. Now that the commemorative plaques are in place, she said the committee will be working to gather photos of former teachers, students and buildings of the school to place on markers around the lampposts in the seating areas. "We're hoping to have photos and information by the benches that explain the history of each building and the old school itself," she said. Baxter Seminary was founded in 1910 by the joint action of the Central Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the church's Board of Education, according to reports. "We want to resurrect this history because a lot of it is gone," Lee said. "We believe it is important to preserve and commemorate, in any way we can, our local history and culture for the future generations." The Seminary Park seamlessly connects to the other area parks, including Baxter City Park, Reflection Park and the new amphitheater. Lee said the parks are something the city and its citizens can be very proud of more...   Original Arch photo:  Baxter Seminary Highlander - Baxter Semimary Yearbooks 1934-1960 by Mike and Audrey Lambert   www.ajlambert.com

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