Blackhorse Brewery has partnered with Legacy Parks for seven years of creating a specialty beer – the Legacy Parks Trail Ale – that benefits our work! Proceeds from beer sales are donated to Legacy Parks.
We are truly grateful for a partner that continues to support us and through a creative and delicious way! Visit Blackhorse Brewery at 441 N. Hall Rd., in Alcoa. Enjoy a pint on tap or pick up a six-pack to-go. You can find this tasty brew in most major grocery stores as well as gas stations all around East Tennessee.
This Hazy IPA is hopped with Citra and Cascade hops to give the brew a heavy orange, citrus, hop aroma while maintaining a low bitterness.
Angora Frog Farm: Update soon as we wrap up fundraising for this unique park in Powell. Preliminary numbers indicate $30,000 was raised during the 50/50 match period just ended – meaning $60,000 for the park, in addition to donations previously announced.
Intergenerational Playspace at Beverly Park: A place for seniors and kids to play together. We hope to install play structures starting Monday, Sept. 25, and ending in mid-October. That would put the park opening by the end of October 2023. The park is located on Knox County land adjacent to Hillcrest Healthcare on Tazewell Pike. With grant funding from the Trinity Health Foundation and others, we were able to work with therapists and health consultants to research and create a space for seniors and children to engage together. It’s a place where rehabilitative exercises can be integrated, and where everyone can enjoy physical activity through play and purposeful movement.
Mountain Commerce Challenge: Three more adventures with Missy Kane: Seven Islands Hike, Oct. 6; Haw Ridge Bike Ride, Oct. 19; and IC King Hike, Nov. 3. Adventures are free for Friends of Legacy Parks or $10 per event for others. Additional fees apply for events requiring equipment rentals.
French Broad Veterans Memorial Park: Last month, we were honored to receive the Annette Anderson Directors’ award from the East Tennessee Community Design Center for this project. The Design Center created this great video about the project – check it out!
And finally, here are six fun outdoor events in the week ahead:
Monday, September 25
AMBC Monthly Meeting: 7 p.m. Southside Garage. Free. Info: Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. We’ll discuss trail conditions, trail building progress, fundraising, local races and events, partner efforts in outdoor recreation and so much more. Everyone welcome! Details online.
Tuesday, September 26
Hiking Series & Clinic #4: 5:30 p.m., Little River Trading Company. Free. Info: Little River Trading Co at 865-681-4141. 4th quarter hiking series covers hiking essentials, the hikes and what terrain to expect on the trail. Let us know if you can make it by emailing Dolphin@LittleRiverTradingCo.com
Thursday, September 28
Seven Islands Birding State Park Float: 12:30 p.m., Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center. Info: Knoxville Adventure Collective at 865-228-8424. The French Broad River put in at Seven Island State Birding Park and take out at Cruze Landing, is the perfect stretch for beginner kayakers. It’s 5 miles with a combination of flatwater, and easy shoals. Sunday and Thursday. Register online.
Friday, September 29
Critical Mass Ride: 6 p.m., Two Bikes Knoxville. Free. Info: Two Bikes at 865-951-2950. As we enter the fall season, it would be nice to take a ride through the UTK campus, culminating at the UT Botanical Gardens. Looping back via the Neyland Greenway, this is a classic Knoxville ride with plenty of views. Details online.
Saturday, September 30
Butterfly Foray and Monarch Tagging: 1 p.m., Seven Islands State Birding Park. Cost $8. Info: Seven Islands State Birding Park at 715-630-6848. To help scientists understand the monarch migration, we’ll put tracking tags on the monarchs we’re able to catch. Register online.
Sunday, October 1
Race for the Summitt 5K: 9 a.m., Tyson Park. Info: UTHSC College of Pharmacy American Pharmacist Association. The 10th annual Knoxville Race for the 5K benefits The Pat Summitt Foundation, to promote education and research for Alzheimer’s disease. Register online.
Carol Evans is executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation.