KUB & Trees Knoxville plant trees in KCDC’s Five Points

Volunteers from Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) planted 22 trees on March 19, 2026, in the Five Points area of East Knoxville in collaboration with Trees Knoxville and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC).

“Through our Volunteer Time program, employees have donated more than 28,000 service hours since 2014 to help support area nonprofits,” said Gabe Bolas, president and CEO of KUB. “We also know planting the right trees in the right places can help lower energy usage over time and beautify our community while maintaining safety around power lines.”

The volunteers planted trees on KCDC property along South Olive Street and Kenner Avenue around infill housing completed last year. The trees complement 15 trees recently planted along Ben Hur Avenue and two red maples previously planted on the grounds.

The new trees were funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service grant designed to fund urban forestry initiatives in underserved communities. Arborists with Trees Knoxville selected the variety and placement of the trees.

“We prioritize native plants that can thrive in the East Tennessee climate,” said Melissa Hinten, executive director of Trees Knoxville. “We also make selections based on beauty, diversity and right tree, right place principles.”

The planted trees include dogwoods, sweetgums, fringe trees, redbuds, foster hollies, linden trees, overcup oaks, black gums, red maples, sweetbay magnolias and willow oaks. Trees Knoxville will water and maintain the trees throughout the summer.

This is the first of five annual tree plantings planned by Trees Knoxville for KCDC properties.

Catherine Howell provided information and quotes for this report.

Tremont Writers Conference plans 2026 creative retreat

Writers are invited to apply now through May 15 to work alongside Ron Rash, Crystal Wilkinson, Linda Parsons and Kelli Jo Ford at the fourth annual Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry coordinated in conjunction with Smokies Life. Applications may be submitted online at writers.gsmit.org.

Held Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 21-25, the conference on the Tremont campus in Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites participants to brainstorm projects alongside award-winning author workshop leaders and professional park educators.

This year’s faculty members include guest writer and “New York Times” best-selling author Ron Rash; recent Kentucky poet laureate and memoirist Crystal Wilkinson (leading the nonfiction cohort); celebrated playwright and Knoxville poet laureate Linda Parsons (poetry cohort leader), and award-winning Cherokee novelist Kelli Jo Ford (leading the fiction cohort).

Acceptance to conference workshops is based on evaluation of submitted writing samples, with all writers notified of their acceptance status by mid-July. Two scholarships are available. Info at writers.gsmit.org.

Ijams River Rescue March 21

Registration is closed for volunteers at the 37th annual Ijams River Rescue on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A severe weather date is set for Saturday, March 28.

Ijams Nature Center’s annual cleanup event brings together hundreds of individuals, families, Scout troops, businesses, and church groups to remove tons of trash and tires from sites along the Tennessee River and its feeder creeks and streams.

Last year’s 518 volunteers removed an estimated 17.2 tons of trash, 100 tires, large household appliances, and car parts from 34 sites along area waterways. Info: Ijams.org/ijams-river-rescue

Notes and Quotes

Outdoor Knoxville, a calendar produced by Legacy Parks Foundation, is a comprehensive list of upcoming local outdoor events. This week’s calendar is eight pages of spring hikes, road races, bike rides and more. Find it here.

Scottish Festival: Tennessee’s oldest festival celebrating Scots-Irish culture and impact is set for the third weekend of May, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, at the Greater Smokies Event Grounds adjacent to the Blount Partnership Townsend Visitor’s Center, 7930 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend, Tennessee. More here.

Hat tip to Keep Knoxville Beautiful for its work to clean up Longview Cemetery. Our story here.

Hat tip 2 to the Presbytery of East Tennessee and the congregation of New Prospect Presbyterian Church for the donation of the church building and 15.7 acres of land to Ijams Nature Center. Our story here.

Quote: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Somebody’s granny.

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