Q& AQ: I came to visit the <strong>Gardens</strong> and I gota parking ticket. <strong>The</strong> visitor spaces werefull. What to do?A: <strong>The</strong>re is a lot <strong>of</strong> construction on the campusthis year and there are a lot more students.<strong>The</strong> combination means that there are very fewparking spaces to go around during peak times.Although almost no one heeds us until they gettheir first parking ticket, we encourage visitors tocome to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> at times outsidethe peak <strong>of</strong> 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. If the<strong>Gardens</strong> visitor parking spaces are full, do notassume that you can park near those 10 spaces.You cannot. At peak times, it can be difficult t<strong>of</strong>ind any space available anywhere, either on themain campus or the agriculture campus. Evenif you find a space during that time, we recommendyou do not park in the space (unless it isone <strong>of</strong> the 10 visitor spaces near the Entranceto the <strong>Gardens</strong>) without getting a permit first.You are almost sure to get a ticket.<strong>The</strong> easiest option, if you must attend ameeting during peak times on weekdays, is togo to Morgan Hall (top <strong>of</strong> the hill and facingthe interstate on the north edge <strong>of</strong> the agriculturecampus) and obtain a parking pass so youdon’t take a chance on a ticket. Otherwise youcould pay for parking in the garage behind the<strong>University</strong> Center and take a bus over to the agriculturecampus, or you can go to the parking<strong>of</strong>fices at either Circle Park or on StephensonDrive and pay $5 for a day permit. Even with apermit, it can be tough to find a space.So, we recommend visiting the <strong>Gardens</strong> before8 a.m. on weekdays (it’s cooler for one thing!)and after 5 p.m. Weekends are usually fine,unless there is a sports event that attracts much<strong>of</strong> the town—usually football. Spaces are mucheasier to find when classes are in recess forthe summer (generally early <strong>May</strong> to late August),plus holiday breaks. However, you still do not wantto park outside the allotted visitor spaces withoutgetting a parking pass if it is between 8 a.m. and 5p.m.If your group includes several vehicles for a specialevent, call Arlene King at 865-974-7439 to requestparking passes in advance.Q: Today I parked at the Third CreekGreenway lot and wanted to walk from thereto the <strong>Gardens</strong>, but then I realized that Icould not get in to the <strong>Gardens</strong> from thesouthern end unless I walked all the wayaround to the Entrance Plaza on the northend <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Gardens</strong>. Could there be gatesor a pass-through at each end along theGreenway so we could walk through the<strong>Gardens</strong>?A: Good question. Smart idea to park on theGreenway lot. That’s what many Friends do duringthe week and then they walk to the campus fromthat public parking lot.Among the many details that are awaiting a masterplan are additional entrances or paths in, out andaround the <strong>Gardens</strong>. Security is also an issue,because right now we have no staff who couldregularly open and close gates every day yearround.We think that the fence has served to keepvandalism to a minimum but, as you note, thereare a lot <strong>of</strong> people who would like to be able tomeander through the <strong>Gardens</strong> from the Greenway.Most bicyclists, <strong>of</strong> course, routinely ride their bikesaround and up Jacob Drive and park outside the<strong>Gardens</strong> near the Entrance Plaza while they visit the<strong>Gardens</strong>. We will be adding a bike rack as part <strong>of</strong>the Entrance Plaza Project.We will also pass your query on to the East<strong>Tennessee</strong> Research and Education Center and<strong>Tennessee</strong> Agricultural Experiment Station administratorswho manage the site. <strong>The</strong>y may see agood, simple solution in the meantime while welook forward to a master plan that can help us withbetter traffic patterns overall.18
New & Renewing Members & Donors-April/<strong>May</strong>Benefactors ($1,000+)Anonymous *Tom BoydAmy I. YanceyBusiness Patrons ($1,000+)Big Rock Building ProductsClaiborne Hauling ContractorsCortese Tree SpecialistsMorrison Printing &<strong>Tennessee</strong> east <strong>of</strong> 75Patterson Design StudioPatron Friends ($500+)Sandee CookBusiness Friends ($250+)Ellenburg NurseryPittman Properties **Pope’s Garden CenterTerrence McDonoughSponsoring Friends ($250+)Maribel KoellaContributing Friends ($100+) ***Bill Dohm & Patty CooperAnne & Gaines PittengerMrs. Don B. PrestonWayne RussellSarah SheppeardFamily FriendsSue & Don ByerlyBobbie CongletonCor & Dorothy de VogelWayne & Judy FreeJoe & Erika FuhrHiram Rogers & Jean GaugerCharlie & Emily JerniganCharles & Clara McNuttCheryl Layson PetersGeorge & Margie PickensRandall StewartJason WoodleIndividual FriendsChristine AcuffH. Ted BallardMary Jean BryantDebbie CavanaughNissa Dahlin-BrownMary Nell FarmerMaria GallKathy T. JacksonSondra JamiesonShirley JohnsonLucie JonesKaren KriegElaine LindkeShelley NewmanEileen RuddLethco SandyIrene SchinsEsther WebsterWilhelmina WilliamsStudent FriendsCathleen C. Rose* Anonymous is the $10,000 challenge grant to Friends members in support <strong>of</strong> the Entrance PlazaProject. Please help by sending your matching contribution to the Friends at P. O. Box 51394, Knoxville,TN 37950-1394. Mark your check “Entrance Plaza.” Questions? Call <strong>The</strong>resa Pepin at 865-573-0445.Thank you!** Pittman Properties has become a Business Friend in honor <strong>of</strong> James Newburn.*** Note that in late 2006 we consolidated the former Sustaining and Contributing categories <strong>of</strong>membership into a single Contributing category. This change is reflected in the new membership applicationforms and renewal forms.“Never think you need to apologize for asking someone to give to a worthy cause, any more than asthough you were giving him or her an opportunity to participate in a high-grade investment. <strong>The</strong> duty<strong>of</strong> giving is as much his or hers as is the duty <strong>of</strong> asking yours.” - John D. Rockefeller, Jr.19