NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An $8 million dollar project to renovate Centennial Park is nearing completion but some visitors to the park wonder if the improvements are working.
The concerns center around Lake Watauga. Last year the lake was drained and dredged in an effort to clean it up.
Now the thick algae that once coated the lake is back. The reason why lies a few hundred yards away at the newly unearthed Cockrill Spring.
“We have had a little issue with the 95 degree weather with not having this project totally completed,” said Tommy Lynch with Metro Parks.
Until Monday, the fresh water spring had been disconnected from the lake. It is supposed to help deliver clean, cold water to help flush out any bacteria.
“There's still some algae. We just today reconnected the fresh water so although it had been dug out deeper than it had been in the past, we didn't have the fresh water coming through which is part of the continuous clarity of the lake,” said Lynch.
Aside from a new amphitheater and small creek for park goers to play in, the $8 million project has also brought in new vegetation.
New plants are in place to filter rain water that eventually flows into the lake.
“I think the main challenge has been this huge construction project in the middle of our busiest park in the city,” stated Lynch.
Officials say it may not look picture perfect now but change is coming.
