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Published on: 06/12/2026

Gatlinburg receives Municipal League award for Excellence in Public Works

Gatlinburg public works complex
Built on land that had been decimated in the 2016 wildfires, Gatlinburg's new public works complex has restored a valuable corridor of the city and provided opportunities for inter-department collaboration. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

From paving streets to clearing debris to maintaining a fleet of vehicles – including the city’s iconic trolleys – the Gatlinburg Public Works Department is comprised of multiple and diverse city departments that keep things running behind the scenes of one of Tennessee’s biggest tourist destinations.  

Gatlinburg publics work department
Employees with the Gatlinburg Public Works Department. The city recently reinvested in a new public works facility on property damaged by the 2016 wildfires. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

For investing in the vital services public works provides through the construction of a new campus facility designed to promote operational excellence, disaster recovery, and community revitalization, the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) is pleased to present the city of Gatlinburg with an award for Excellence in Public Works. The award will be presented at the 86th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) held at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn. 

Like many buildings throughout the city, Gatlinburg’s Street Department Facility was among many damaged following the devastating 2016 wildfires. City leaders strategically began to acquire multiple properties around the former facility site that had been left dilapidated and blighted in the wake of the fires. 

With the properties secured, planning began on a $15.6 million cohesive public works campus, which brought bring together the city’s utilities maintenance department, building maintenance department, street department, customer service center, and trolley fleet together under one roof. The facility also has room to house the millions of lights used each year for the city’s annual Winterfest, a covered fleet shelter for trolleys, an indoor vehicle wash for all of the city’s fleet vehicles, and several centralized storage facilities for various department needs. 

By bringing all of these departments under one roof, efficiency has been increased in all departments with communication, coordination, and response times all improving. Staff can now better collaborate, share resources, and streamline workflows as well as ensure efforts are not duplicated.  

Gatlinburg public works employes
By locating all of the different public works departments into a single facility, Gatlinburg has seen an increase in collaboration and a reduction in duplication. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

A former bank building on the site was also renovated to provide residents with a convenient, accessible location for bill payments and other financial transactions, featuring a drive-thru window and after-hours drop box. This easy-to-access facility has also reduced congestion at other city facilities, and improved customer experience. The fleet shelter and vehicle wash also enhance the longevity of city equipment and has reduced maintenance needs. The modern infrastructure of the new campus has also reduced operational costs with maintaining other aging buildings while the purpose-built infrastructure reduces the need for future capital expenditures.  

Keeping in mind the 201 016 wildfires, the campus was also designed to centralize critical public works functions and resources that can be called upon in the case of future disasters.  

The facility has also become a symbol of post-wildfire revitalization and land stewardship for the city. Through strategic acquisitions, the city turned an area left blighted by disaster into an aesthetically pleasing, well-maintained property in a key location. The project has turned adversity into opportunity by investing in infrastructure that supports both residents and tourists, enhanced both visual and service quality, and provided convenient, citizen-focused services in an accessible area.  

The new public works facility is now a symbol of the city’s overall resilience, forward-thinking leadership, and commitment to government efficiency that will continue to serve Gatlinburg for decades to come. 

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