During the Crossville City Council work session, the council discussed seeking approval to submit a letter of intent for a Healthy Built Environment Grant through the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). This grant, administered by the TDH Office of Primary Prevention, supports projects that promote physical activity, healthy eating, community resilience, and built environment improvements—often focused on trails, parks, and infrastructure in underserved or priority areas.

The specific request is for up to $80,000 to fund a trailhead and additional parking at Meadow Park Lake. This addresses current parking shortages at the popular site and aligns with broader trail enhancements, including bridges and connections tied to ongoing lake and trail developments. At this stage, the city only needs council authorization to submit the initial letter of intent (a non-binding step to express interest and gauge eligibility), not a full application or commitment of matching funds.

Staff recommended moving forward with this submission, noting it as a strategic opportunity to improve public access and recreational opportunities without immediate financial obligation beyond the application process.

The council added this item to the formal agenda for a decision at their upcoming meeting next week.