Protecting and Enhancing Our Scenic Views
I think that I shall never see
A billboard lovely as a tree.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I'll never see a tree at all.
- Ogden Nash
Welcome to Scenic Knoxville! We hope you will enjoy your visit and find something beautiful to see.
Scenic Knoxville is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the bountiful scenic resources in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. The group is the first local chapter of the statewide organization Scenic Tennessee, and is also affiliated with Scenic America.
A group of diverse individuals from different parts of Knoxville, all possessing a real passion for the city, came together in early 2008 to form the Scenic Knoxville chapter.
The Board of Directors includes Gene Burr, Mark Campen, Joyce Feld, David Goodsen, Marsha Grieve, Robert Marlino, Jay Nevans, Lisa Starbuck and Julie Webb.
Scenic Knoxville's first challenge was to help regulate the use of digital billboards in the City of Knoxville. These super-sized bright billboards have been called 'PowerPoint on a Stick' by opponents, and their impact on driver safety has been a key factor in banning the signs in other communities across the nation.
Thank you for helping to extend the ban on new billboards in the City of Knoxville to digital billboards! Although we had success in our initial effort to stop digitals in Knoxville, we know the industry will continue to push for them. Another success was the recent passage through City Council of a ban on future EMCs in the City of Knoxville. Stricter regulations on existing EMCs were also passed. Thanks to everyone, especially Knoxville City Council members, for making this happen!
A 180-day moratorium on digital billboards and EMCs in Knox County has been enacted so that an ordinance to regulate them can be discussed. Contact your Knox County Commissioners to let them know you oppose digital billboards and EMCs and want them regulated in Knox County!
Watch the Scenic Knoxville 30-sec. TV spot on Digital Billboards and visit Stop Knoxville Blight for more information on digital billboards.
Future interests and activities for the group include support for developing a comprehensive ridge protection ordinance, advocating for sustainable land use policies and environmentally sound practices, advancing historic preservation of scenic landmarks, and supporting appropriate state and local legislative initiatives such as implementing billboard and signage control measures.
According to our membership survey, litter is an issue that many of our members are concerned about. Click here to read the Pride of Place newsletter for updates about the Tennessee Bottle Bill, written by bottle bill advocate, Marge Davis of Scenic Tennessee.
Join us! Your membership to Scenic Knoxville also gives you membership in Scenic Tennessee. To support Scenic Knoxville and Scenic Tennessee and begin receiving the quarterly newsletter, you can join online by filling out the form below or click here to download a membership form. Individuals from surrounding counties are welcome. For more information contact info@scenicknoxville.org.
After submitting this form, you will be redirected to a page where you can pay online using Paypal. If you use Paypal for your membership payment, you do not need to mail this form.

Knoxville area photos courtesy Cathy McCaughan and Lisa Starbuck
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