A developer of condos off Maloney Road in South Knoxville agreed to provide a boat ramp dock and gazebo (or picnic shelter) in exchange for Knox County park land to build a necessary sewer pumping station for the condos.

It has been almost two years. The dock has been provided but the gazebo has not.

In a July 10th, 2006 Knoxville News Sentinel article, "Nearly two years later, the boat dock is in place at the Maloney Road Park, but the shelter hasn't materialized. Last month, the county sent the developer a letter threatening to build the shelter and bill the contractor for the cost.

"While we understand that construction has taken much longer than expected, certainly a year and a half is more than adequate for this construction," states the June 22 letter from the Knox County Law Department to the developer.

The article quotes Knox County Commissioner Paul Pinkston saying, "I'm not concerned whatsoever about Mr. Weaver coming through with the gazebo. He's a local boy and a man of his word."

(The News Sentinel article link is no longer working.)

In a phone call to Mr. Pinkston Wednesday, Sept. 27th, to determine the status of the gazebo, Mr. Pinkston stated he is still not concerned because it is now up to Knox County to build the promised gazebo. According to Pinkston, apparently the developer is having a bit of trouble, unexpected cost increases [due to Katrina], unexpected costs for site preparation, etc. The developer may have some materials already purchased for the gazebo. The developer may be able to pay the County's costs for the County to build the gazebo. The Knox County Parks & Recreation Department is now in control of building the promised gazebo with or without contributions from the developer.