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With the help of a National Association of REALTORS® Placemaking Grant, East Tennessee REALTORS® supported the Historic Downtown Clinton Youth Board’s initiative to add small trees and a clever terrapin sculpture to improve a small park outside the public library in Clinton, Tenn. Joey Smith, a real estate agent and volunteer leader for the Historic Downtown Clinton group, presented the project to the local association in May 2023, and with the creative skills of the sixth-grade glass at South Clinton Elementary, the project culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Townie the Turtle during the Mosaic Arts Festival in April 2024.
“Terrapin Hill, a park on a small hill in the heart of downtown Clinton, held a fascinating history,” writes Catrin Latham, government affairs and policy specialist for the association. “This quirky bit of local lore, coupled with the park’s proximity to the library, inspired the students to propose a sculpture of a turtle on its back, reading a book. This whimsical idea would transform the underutilized space into a scenic walkway connecting downtown to the main street.”
The Tennessee Arts Commission sponsored a storybook trail through the park, which incorporates a book written by local author Ray Oliver and illustrated by Smith, that follows Townie the Turtle through historic downtown Clinton. The newly enhanced park has become a gathering place for educational field trips, where children can learn about their town’s heritage.
