In 2019, Councilman Eric Walker made a motion to amend the ‘19 - ‘20 City Budget to dedicate additional funds to the Transportation Fund for road improvements, sidewalk improvements, and “Pay as You Go” projects. This motion was unanimously passed by the Council. This pivotal change in the City’s budget would position our community to be well funded for much needed transportation Improvements. Over 25 existing road projects have currently been identified some of the current and future projects include: S. Jefferson widening to 5 lanes, 10th Street Widening, E. Hudgens & S. Elm Turn Lane, Expansion, S. Willow and W. Jackson Turn lanes, N. Cedar street scape and bike lanes, two new downtown public parking areas, and the largest increase of road resurfacing this City has ever been committed to complete.

Improving Downtown Cookeville has been a priority for Councilman Eric Walker. Cookeville’s vibrant downtown is home to the highest density of small business, and the two largest employers in our region, Tennessee Tech and CRMC. Beatification and development of our Downtown will improve our Hometown culture and improve our City. Improvements to public parking, landscaping, and other city services will go far in continuing to improve our downtown. Downtown development will be inspired through street improvements and scaping, as well as strategic rezoning. Eric Walker visions a downtown Cookeville that brings families together, inspires culture, and becomes a destination for visitors for shopping, entertainment, celebration, and local restaurants.

Cookeville is a highly desirable place to live and raise a family. Therefore, we have seen positive growth for many years. In the past few years this steady growth has accelerated. Looking towards the future we must plan our growth and ensure that we are able to provide quality services to our residents. A growing vibrant economy is great for our city, however taking caution to ensure that we are not out pacing what our City can sustain is important to continuing Cookeville’s long history of being a vibrant community. We need to take close consideration of the impacts of large-scale residential developers and how they could forever change our City.