Blog: Keeping up with Kincannon

Sandra ClarkDowntown, Our Town Neighbors

It would be hard to keep up with Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. Luckily, she likes to shoot selfies with her phone. Like the one above with the Haslams. She called it “a great night of true Volunteer Spirit!”

Next thing you know, she’s over at the city’s Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Avenue. I’ve got no idea how to get there, but you can see it from I-40 westbound. It’s the spot that has sprouted 100 or so solar panels.

Miley’s mile

Wayne Miley and his mile

So, on Tuesday, Kincannon was there to dedicate “Miley’s Mile,” a 1-mile loop soft-surface walking trail at the public works center. It’s named for Wayne Miley, the soon-to-retire greenways crew foreman for the city. Kincannon posted: “Trail lovers citywide for years have enjoyed the handiwork of Wayne and his hard-working crew.” She even created a hashtag: #KnoxvilleJobWellDone

This trail is an amenity for city employees working at the center who want to get some exercise on their lunch break. Also open to the public, the trail winds past the new KUB community solar project.

Ijams update

Coming up at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, Kincannon and Amber Parker of Ijams Nature Center will celebrate the re-opening of the north side of River Trail and a new section of the River Boardwalk. The public is invited, but you need to be able to hike a mile over “significant inclines.”

Uh, we’ll just wait for the selfies.

FYI: The Ijams grounds and trails are open every day from 8 a.m. until dusk. Starting Nov. 1, 2022, the Visitor Center will switch to fall and winter hours and will be open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and Sunday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Info: Ijams.org.

Building a stadium

Meanwhile, the Knox Sports Authority met Oct. 25 at the above-mentioned Public Works Service Center. The sports authority was created to oversee financing, construction and management of the multi-use (but mostly baseball) stadium projected to be open by early 2025.

This summer and fall, the stadium site is being graded, utility-line relocations are underway and upgrades are being made to the electricity, water, gas and sewer system infrastructures. In early 2023, construction of the stadium itself will begin. Project FAQs here.

Notes

Kellie Harper, coach of the Lady Vols basketball team will speak to the Rotary Club of Knoxville at the Crowne Plaza at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Lunch is served at noon and the program starts at 12:15 p.m. – Submitted by Brooks Clark (no relation)

Text your announcement to 865-661-8777. No charge. It’s what we do!

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