Transforming industrial streetscapes into comfortable, shaded walkways for thousands of visitors at Knoxville’s premier sports venue.
When developers face industrial streetscapes, they have two clear options: settle for the status quo or invest in transformation. Covenant Health Park, the new multi-use stadium serving as home to the Knoxville Smokies baseball team and One Knox SC soccer team, chose transformation. And the results speak for themselves.
The Challenge: Creating Comfort in High-Traffic Heat
With seating for 6,400 for sports events and up to 10,000 for festivals and concerts, this stadium needed more than just functional infrastructure. Picture game day with thousands of fans walking those sidewalks in 90℉ Tennessee heat. The difference between scorching concrete and shaded walkways becomes critical to visitor experience, especially in a venue designed to revitalize a previously abandoned industrial area.
The Solution: Strategic Tree Infrastructure
Installation Timeline: Trees were installed in February and March 2025, with the stadium officially opening in April.
The Results: 95% tree establishment success rate within the first few months, a 20% improvement over the typical 75% success rate achieved with traditional planting methods.
Here’s what happens when you get the infrastructure right:
→ Trees establish faster and last longer
→ Root systems expand despite space constraints
→ Walkways stay cooler during peak events
→ Property values increase over time
As noted in the city’s project documentation, these “protected root boxes” provide the critical root zone expansion that traditional tree pits simply cannot deliver, especially in high-traffic areas.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Transforming industrial streetscapes into comfortable, shaded walkways for thousands of visitors at Knoxville’s premier sports venue.
When developers face industrial streetscapes, they have two clear options: settle for the status quo or invest in transformation. Covenant Health Park, the new multi-use stadium serving as home to the Knoxville Smokies baseball team and One Knox SC soccer team, chose transformation. And the results speak for themselves.
The Challenge: Creating Comfort in High-Traffic Heat
With seating for 6,400 for sports events and up to 10,000 for festivals and concerts, this stadium needed more than just functional infrastructure. Picture game day with thousands of fans walking those sidewalks in 90℉ Tennessee heat. The difference between scorching concrete and shaded walkways becomes critical to visitor experience, especially in a venue designed to revitalize a previously abandoned industrial area.
The Solution: Strategic Tree Infrastructure
Installation Timeline: Trees were installed in February and March 2025, with the stadium officially opening in April.
The Results: 95% tree establishment success rate within the first few months, a 20% improvement over the typical 75% success rate achieved with traditional planting methods.
Here’s what happens when you get the infrastructure right:
→ Trees establish faster and last longer
→ Root systems expand despite space constraints
→ Walkways stay cooler during peak events
→ Property values increase over time
As noted in the city’s project documentation, these “protected root boxes” provide the critical root zone expansion that traditional tree pits simply cannot deliver, especially in high-traffic areas.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
"You all have been great to work with. We appreciate all the flexibility that you've provided for us from picking up materials at your place to working with us financially. The customer service that you all have provided has been top notch. Shout out to the whole team over there!"
Beyond Basic Planting: Custom Design Elements
The project featured custom-made, laser-cut steel tree grates with a distinctive starburst design. These grates included custom light openings and expandable sections to accommodate tree growth over time, ensuring long-term functionality matches aesthetic appeal.
Partnership Excellence
The project’s success was built on strong partnerships. According to the project manager at Earthadelic, the landscape contractor:
“You all have been great to work with. We appreciate all the flexibility that you’ve provided for us from picking up materials at your place to working with us financially. The customer service that you all have provided has been top notch. Shout out to the whole team over there!”
"You all have been great to work with. We appreciate all the flexibility that you've provided for us from picking up materials at your place to working with us financially. The customer service that you all have provided has been top notch. Shout out to the whole team over there!"
Beyond Basic Planting: Custom Design Elements
The project featured custom-made, laser-cut steel tree grates with a distinctive starburst design. These grates included custom light openings and expandable sections to accommodate tree growth over time, ensuring long-term functionality matches aesthetic appeal.
Partnership Excellence
The project’s success was built on strong partnerships. According to the project manager at Earthadelic, the landscape contractor:
“You all have been great to work with. We appreciate all the flexibility that you’ve provided for us from picking up materials at your place to working with us financially. The customer service that you all have provided has been top notch. Shout out to the whole team over there!”
The Bottom Line
This stadium project demonstrates exactly why smart developers choose trees for their high-profile developments. While these trees are new, they’re supported by RootSpace soil cells that will enable them to grow and provide shade, improve air quality, and keep walkways beautifully cooled for decades to come.
RootSpace delivers uncompacted soil space that traditional tree pits lack, yielding measurable long-term environmental and financial benefits that transform industrial streetscapes into thriving community destinations.
The Bottom Line
This stadium project demonstrates exactly why smart developers choose trees for their high-profile developments. While these trees are new, they’re supported by RootSpace soil cells that will enable them to grow and provide shade, improve air quality, and keep walkways beautifully cooled for decades to come.
RootSpace delivers uncompacted soil space that traditional tree pits lack, yielding measurable long-term environmental and financial benefits that transform industrial streetscapes into thriving community destinations.
