YOUR MISSION
Orchard Knob residents, in partnership with Parkridge Medical Center and other organizations working in the neighborhood, are committed to making this historic district ground zero for focused, positive, community-driven change. We need your help.
Included in this guide, you will find recipes for community action. It is complete with detailed instructions and lists of all the necessary tools, materials, and collaborators.
Contact OrchardKnobCollaborative@gmail.com if you would like to get involved in one of these projects.
Tree Planting
Beautify the street | Slow down traffic | Provide a gateway
DIRECTIONS:
Get in touch with the City Forrester if the potential tree planting site is on City property, Call 423.643.6000.
Identify how wide the grass area is between the sidewalk and street.
Work with the City Department of Transportation and the City Forrester to indentify tree species.
Get permission from the City at the Development Resource Center off Market Street.
Once you have permission, coordinate a day in the fall to plant the trees.
Purchase trees at a nearby nursery.
Call 811 to make sure there are not underground utilities.
Use an auger or shovel to dig holes before planting.
Invite your neighbors, friends, supporters to volunteer to plant the trees with you.
Provide snacks and water at the volunteer day.
MATERIALS:
Trees (the size and kind will depend on site), mulch, soil, water
TOOLS:
Gloves, shovels, post digger, rakes, scissors/snips, water bucket or hose, trash bags
TIME: One Weekend
COST: $18,000
COLLABORATION:
Green|spaces, City Forester, City of Chattanooga Landscape Inspector and Department of Transportation, neighborhood associations, local businesses
Public Park Wayfinding Signage
Connect neighbors to parks | Provide awareness of accesible public space
DIRECTIONS:
Identify a neighborhood artist or craftsman to assist with this project.
Purchase plywood and posts.
Cut plywood in half to make two signs.
Paint signs
Go to the site, call 811 for underground utility information.
Use post hole diggers to dig two 4ft deep holes 3ft apart.
Place 4x4 posts in holes and pack in dirt to secure and level.
Screw signs to posts.
Gauge neighborhood interest in new signs.
If there's a need for permanent signage, partner with City of Chattanooga and park owners.
MATERIALS:
(4) 4x4 wood posts - 8' long, (1) 4' x 8' sheet of plywood, paint, screws
TOOLS:
Table saw, post hole digger, a level, drill, paint brushes/rollers
TIME: One weekend
COST: Under $500 per sign
COLLABORATION:
Local artist and woodworker, National Park Partners, City of Chattanooga, Neighborhood Association
Neighborhood Signage Gateways
Make a local landmark | Create a visual experience| Provide a welcoming entryway
DIRECTIONS:
Secure project approval from property owner.
If using plywood, prime and paint plywood with a neighborhood logo.
Attach plywood signage to posts or signage structure @ 12" on center using steel fasteners.
Paint over fasteners.
Identify other gateway locations where signage is needed as one enters or leaves the neighborhood boundaries.
MATERIALS:
brick, metal, plywood (the size will depend on sign), paint, primer, posts, steel fasteners
TOOLS: drill, hammer, circular saw, scaffolding
TIME: One weekend
COST: Less than $1000 per sign
COLLABORATION:
Local businesses, local sign company, Parkridge Hospital, City of Chattanooga Signage Board
Crosswalk Painting
Slow down traffic | Improve pedestrian and student safety | Encourage feet on the streets.
DIRECTIONS:
Coordinate with local schools to discuss street safety.
Partner with the local school’s art department to create designs.
Coordinate with the City’s Transportation Department on design, placement, and closing down intersections.
Rent barricades for street closing (A-1, 423.265.3054 or Flasher, 423.892.1543).
Pressure wash intersection.
Use string, tape, or a stencil (call Range Projects
423.498.2950 for wooden stencils or the downtown Library 423.643.7700 for plastic stencils) to lay out the design (or) contract an artist to paint the design.
Involve others
Allow to dry.
Reopen street.
MATERIALS:
Paint, roller covers, extension cords, brushes, painters tape, string
TOOLS:
Pressure washer, hose, rollers, extension poles, brushes, paint sprayer, drop cloths
TIME: One weekend
COST: Less than $1000
COLLABORATION:
Orchard Knob Elementary, Chattanooga Department of Transportation, Public Works, Public Art Chattanooga, Neighborhood Association, local businesses
Historic Mailbox Replacement
Beautify the block | Build neighborhood pride
DIRECTIONS:
To improve the look of a home, complete one or more of the following steps:
Install new mailbox: Dig around existing mailbox to loosen the soil; remove existing mailbox, post, and concrete base; create new mailbox post at Build it Green’s Studio Space; place new mailbox post in hole; fill around post with instant concrete mix at least 10" deep; place soil over concrete; attach mailbox to post.
Purchase perennial plants to go around mailbox such as iris or daylilies at a nursery; using a trowel, carefully dig holes one and a half times the size of the plants' pots.
MATERIALS:
Mailbox; mailbox post; instant concrete mix; house numbers
TOOLS: Shovel; screwdriver; drill; auger
TIME: One weekend
COST: Less than $600 per house
COLLABORATION:
green|spaces’ Build it Green work team, volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Association, City of Chattanooga’s economic & community development, Parkridge Hospital
Home Repair & Landscaping
Build neighborhood pride | Preserve and increase home value | Beautify the block.
DIRECTIONS:
Create a designated parking space: using duct tape, mark off stripes to be painted on road; use white spray paint, paint roadway inside of duct tape stencil; remove duct tape; place cones around parking space to prevent cars from driving over wet paint.
Plant a new yard tree or foundation shrubs: Purchase trees at a nearby nursery; call 811 to make sure there aren't any underground utilities; dig hole; place tree in hole; remove wire basket and burlap; make sure tree or shrub is plumb; fill hole to the base of the tree; do not overfill hole; water and mulch.
Create a mailbox planting: purchase perennial plants such as iris or daylilies at a nursery; using a trowel, carefully dig holes one and a half times the size of the plants' pots; remove plants from nursery pots; place in holes; refill holes to base of plants; water and mulch.
MATERIALS :
Mailbox, mailbox post, instant concrete mix, house numbers, duct tape, white spray paint, traffic cones, trees, mulch, 4x4 wood post, birdhouse, perennial plants
TOOLS:
Shovel, screwdriver, drill, auger, wire snips, lobbers, trowel
TIME: One weekend
COST: Less than $1,000 per house
COLLABORATION:
Landscape architect, volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, Build it Green, green|spaces, Neighborhood Association, City of Chattanooga’s economic & community development
Cohesive Fencing
Create a welcoming atmosphere | Beautify the block
DIRECTIONS:
Using a bolt cutter with a sharp blade separate chain link grid from posts. There should be several narrow wire loops called fence ties that secure the chain link to the top of the fence rail. Remove these along the length of the fence, and then start to remove the clips holding the link fence to the vertical posts. Work your way along the length of the fence, detaching each of the links from the post. The chain link should simply fall to ground.
Cut up the chain link in several small pieces to make removal easier. Lay the chain link down flat to roll it in a tight cylinder, starting from one end and rolling until tightly packed, tying it with a wire or a rope to keep it held together.
Remove the top rail. The fence should now consist of just the poles and top rails. Unless welded to the posts, removing it should be easier enough, by loosening the nuts and bolts holding the top rail to the posts. If the top rail is too secured to the posts or even welded together, use a reciprocating saw, hacksaw, or hand grinder.
4.
Remove the posts. Start by digging around the posts to see if there is any concrete embedding the post into the ground – soak the ground with water to make digging easier. As most fences are installed using a concrete base, you’re going to need to dig around the concrete base, which helps lose the post for easier removal. Try pushing and pulling the post after digging up around the concrete base – this usually works in most cases. Be aware that end and corner posts are more secure, so you may need to use a cutting saw to remove most of the post if you can’t remove it by hand.
MATERIALS: tight cylinder, buckets for water
TOOLS:
bolt cutter, reciprocating saw, hacksaw, hand grinder, cutting saw
TIME: One weekend
COST: Less than $1,000
COLLABORATION:
neighbors, property owner, local fence removal company, volunteers
Pocket Park
Provide a gathering place for the community | Connect neighbors
DIRECTIONS:
At your chosen location, measure an even number of post locations in a rectangular formation like so:
MATERIALS:
Galvanized tubing (poles), galvanized tee connectors, prefabricated canvas cloth (weather resistant), Sackcrete concrete mix (1 per tube), christmas lights, cable ties and grommet
Mark the post locations with spray paint.
Use an auger or post-digger to dig precise holes where you’ve marked the posts.
Use Sackcrete to set the poles. Make sure they’re straight and evenly spaced before, during and after the pouring of concrete.
Use your remaining poles, along with your galvanized connectors, to create squares on top of the posts. This will stabilize the structure and create the framework for draping the canvas.
Drape your pre-fabricated canvas on top of the structure. Secure the canvas to the structure with durable fasteners. Attach your stringed lights around the edges of the structure.
TOOLS:
Auger, trowel, wheelbarrow, ladders (2)
TIME: One month to plan; one weekend to build or install
COST: Less than $5,000 or could range to $200,000
COLLABORATION:
Designer/builder, neighbors, property owner
Street/Pathway Lighting
Provides a sense of safety | Connect neighbors
DIRECTIONS:
Purchase solar lights from a hardware store. Consult the manufacturer's packaging or website for suggested lighting applications and spacing before you choose your lights.
Plan your fixture layout carefully, ideally in a spot where they will receive at least six to eight hours per day of bright sunlight.
Edge your walkway if you are planning for pathway lights and trim back foliage where needed.
Using a tape measure, lay out the lights along the pathway. Be sure your line is no more than 6-inches from the edge of the path or the light may not illuminate it properly at night. Temporarily place each light where it will go. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for suggested spacing.
Assemble the lights according to instructions. Usually, this requires placing the light top into the support and then attaching the light stake to the bottom of the support.
Expose the solar lights to full sun for 12- to 14-hours before starting installation. This will allow the battery to fully charge and uncover any lights that may be defective before you install them. If the ground is hard or dry, lightly water the soil along the area where the lights will be installed. Allow the soil to soak for a few hours.
Once you have the fixtures where you want them, drive their stakes into the ground. Make sure they remain plumb. The lights should install easily. Don’t force the lights into the ground as this might damage the stakes.
MATERIALS:
Pathway lights (amount will depend on how long the path is that you want to illuminate)
TOOLS: Tape measure
TIME: one day or weekend
COST: $500-$5000 (depending on site and scale)
COLLABORATION: green|spaces, epb, property owners, neighbors
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Orchard Knob residents and Parkridge Medical Center leadership began working together to envision a healthier and more vibrant neighborhood in 2019. Hospital staff and residents invited other organizational partners to the table and the Orchard Knob Collaborative was formed. The Orchard Knob Collaborative (OKC) is taking a 3-phase approach to community revitalization, focusing on physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, and healthy living. The main mission of the OKC is to improve the health and well being of the community by addressing the social determinants of health. This guide serves as a framework for short and long-term neighborhood improvements and enhancements in Orchard Knob. Resident leaders, volunteers, hospital staff, partners, and artists will work together to bring these ideas to life. This is the third version of the How to Guide originated by Glass House Collective working in the Glass Farm neighborhood along Glass Street.
Thank You!
Orchard Knob Collaborative would like to thank all of the collaborating organizations, artists, residents, and volunteers for helping bring these projects to life. Organizational partners include: Orchard Knob Neighborhood Association, Habitat for Humanity, Glass House Collective, green|spaces, Chattanooga Design Studio, YMCA, The Enterprise Center, epb, United Way Chattanooga, and the City of Chattanooga
Projects featured in this guide were chosen by the Orchard Knob Neighborhood Association. Design for v3 by: Taylor Kinser with Taylor Kinser Design (Initial design: Nicholas Turner) Architectural renderings designed by: Heidi Hefferlin with HK Architects
Photos by: Kelly Lacy with Make Beautiful Funded by: Tom Ozburn, CEO of Parkridge Medical Center
If interested in getting involved in the good work happening here, please contact OrchardKnobCollaborative@gmail.com.
If interested in replicating a guide like this in your community, please contact Teal Thibaud at teal@ littlethingslab.com and for more information about Glass House Collective visit: www.glasshousecollective.org @GlasshouseLIVE www.facebook.com/glasshousecollective 423-402-0565
