Thoroughfares that run through communities
Beyond the major corridors, there are over 300 miles of other arterial and collector roads in Knoxville. Examples include Cedar Lane and Vanosdale Road. The plan focuses upon both conservation and planting opportunities along the thoroughfares.

Neighborhood Streets
Essentially, there are two types of neighborhood street patterns: the old grid streets that were typically developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the curvilinear suburban streets, which started with Sequoyah Hills and continue to be created today.

Knoxville’s oldest neighborhoods were created on a grid street pattern. The opportunities for tree planting vary in relation to street and sidewalk characteristics. Some of the streets have planting strips between the curb and sidewalk, which could be used for introducing trees depending upon the width of the strip. Some neighborhoods were developed with sidewalks right at the curb, suggesting yard trees as the practical planting solution. Finally, many blocks were created on a grid system but do not have sidewalks.

The streetscapes of older neighborhoods varies considerably, primarily as a result of inconsistencies in the types, locations and health of trees. In many neighborhoods, large deciduous trees have been lost. Part of the problem has been tree topping, resulting in premature death. This has occurred on both public and private portions of the streetscapes.

In the 1920s, Knoxville witnessed the development of its first romantic landscape suburb, Sequoyah Hills. Winding roads and heavily wooded landscapes are its prominent features. Sequoyah Hills became the model that was quickly imitated in developing Forest Heights, Lindbergh Forest and Holston Hills. After World War II, similar suburbs were added to Knoxville’s landscape in such places as West Hills. Like the earlier suburbs, yard trees formed the most significant component of these landscapes. In general, tree conservation is the primary objective for such suburban neighborhoods.

Significant Opportunities
These include a variety of situations, such as places where there are no trees and landscaping, public and quasi-public spaces like school and church grounds that could be further landscaped, and places where wooded areas should be conserved.

Special Districts
Some streets and some neighborhoods have extraordinary forested landscapes that should be conserved. Other areas are so unique, such as downtown and the university’s campus, that specialized tree planting programs are appropriate. To address such situations, special districts are recommended. Through its ordinance, the Tree Board has been given the responsibility to create special districts, and various districts are proposed on the following pages.