Hey, folks. Let’s Talk – Outdoors will return tomorrow – Saturday – in order to provide news from today’s Legacy Parks Foundation luncheon. I’m expecting updates on current projects underway in Powell (Beaver Creek) and South Knoxville (Art Walk and Rail-to-Trail pedestrian/ bike path from Chapman Highway to Ijams Nature Center).
Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks, has a campaign underway to “sell” sponsorship of the five letters in SoKno for $5,000 each to support the project. Hey, the letters will be huge and sponsors will be acknowledged on the signage. (This “S” brought to you by Peppie’s Pet Care.)
The luncheon (noon today at Johnson University) is a fund-raiser for the nonprofit, but it’s more. Evans always has a surprise. One of the best was the year she had then-Gov. Bill Haslam as the speaker. Afterwards, she and Haslam announced the creation of a brand-new state park – Seven Islands State Birding Park.
Sure enough, it’s there today with rangers and all the trappings of a state park … and it’s growing. Last year, Evans announced acquisition of a couple more islands. (No, it’s not now Nine Islands.)
Joe Mack
Change confirmed: Joseph “Joe” Mack, the professional manager of parks and recreation that Glenn Jacobs brought in after some purchasing card problems with his first parks & rec guy, has not been retained by new Knox County Mayor Betsy Henderson. That was confirmed by Henderson’s press secretary, Jenna Triplett, who said a replacement for Mack has not been chosen. Triplett said Mack, 53, had retired.
I like Joe Mack. He gets it. Rich folks can live on the lake, buy a motor boat, join a country club or spend a week at The Swag. County parks are for the rest of us. County parks are open spaces, close to home, where kids of all ages can chase a frog, watch a bird or fling a disc at a basket – all free, all accessible. I love seeing kids playing in the splash pad on Emory Road.
As homes are clustered with almost no yard, public spaces to play become even more important. Carol Evans has pioneered a concept of working with property owners who love their land and don’t want it developed. Ten acres here, 12 there and you’ve got a chain of parks.
Knox County needs strong leadership to keep those parks safe and maintained. Somebody who gets it.
***
Sandra Clark compiles obituary links and writes the Let’s Talk series for KnoxTNToday – Let’s Talk – Outdoors archive. Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Get daily articles in one place with our free newsletter. Send comments to news@knoxtntoday.com/.
