City seeks $2.6 million state grant to upgrade Fairview’s Historical Village Park

Annika Gilliam, a landscape architect and project manager at Kimley Horn and the grant administrator for the project, presented the City of Fairview’s application for the 2026 Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) during a public engagement meeting.

Gilliam said the city is requesting $2.6 million from the state program administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). "This is a 50/50 match," she said, explaining that TDEC would fund half the project and the city must provide the remaining match, partly via land value. Gilliam added that the city is proposing a $760,000 land-value match and would provide the remaining 25% in cash.

The application and schematic design respond to the city’s 2023 parks master plan, which identified Historical Village Park (about three acres) as needing improved connectivity and program space. "None of what is there right now as far as the historic structures will be taken out or impacted at all by any of the improvements happening," Gilliam said, stressing the design intent to preserve historic features while adding usable, accessible space.

Planned improvements shown in the approved schematic design include an open-air stage or amphitheater using existing site grade, a covered farmer’s-market pavilion, a restroom building, ADA-compliant walking paths forming an accessible loop through the park, parking, and water-quality/stormwater features. Gilliam said these elements were derived from community feedback collected during the master-plan process and are intended to support educational programming, performances, festivals and partnerships with local vendors and heritage organizations.

Gilliam said Kimley Horn has led the site layout and coordination for ADA/access and stormwater, while partners at 906 Studios designed the pavilion, restroom and stage features. The team has worked on the project since August 2024; Gilliam noted the schematic plan has been approved by the board of commissioners, which she said should accelerate the post-award design and permitting phases.

On schedule and next steps: Gilliam said the LPRF application is due April 1, 2026; awards are typically announced in late summer or early fall. If awarded, the project would move into contracting with TDEC, preparation of construction documents, bidding, contractor selection and construction—TDEC performs final inspections before a ribbon-cutting and public opening. "We can hit the ground running," she said, citing the amount of front-end work already completed.

During a question-and-answer period, attendees asked whether detailed construction drawings were required for the application. Gilliam replied that TDEC needs schematic designs to demonstrate intent and that construction documents would be developed after an award. Asked about parking on an off-site parcel, Gilliam said off-site improvements could be discussed with TDEC after award and might be eligible for funding with TDEC approval. She also confirmed that documented city ownership of the property can be counted as the land-value match.

Gilliam said the meeting was being streamed to Facebook Live and will be posted to YouTube to meet the LPRF public-engagement requirement. She closed by reiterating confidence that the application meets the fund’s criteria and thanking attendees. The city will submit the application on April 1, 2026, and then await TDEC’s award decisions later in the year.