County announces new health initiative

The Knox County Parks and Recreation Department has started a new health initiative. We are kicking it off with a “Walk with the Mayor” event on Saturday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Ijams Nature Center. Our team is working to get a hydration station brought out by KUB, and we are seeking sponsors for T-shirts to give away. Knox County Library also will be on hand.

After that, we plan to start a Walk Across Tennessee campaign that will eventually lead to a Walk Across America campaign. The details of this are still being worked out. Prizes will likely include water bottles to then start a water drinking challenge/campaign.

With these initiatives in mind, we also are working to coordinate a yoga event at one of our waterfront parks. We will have more details once they are confirmed. In addition, the department’s senior director, Joe Mack, plans to apply for a Project Diabetes grant that, we hope, will add some outdoor fitness equipment around Knox County as well as water activities at Melton Hill Park. More details on all of this to come!

I want to note that Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay will host a public meeting next Thursday, April 6, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Cove Clubhouse (1311 Waterside Lane) to talk more about the Northshore Greenway and Pedestrian Safety Project. The focus will be on the section from The Cove at Concord Park to Choto Road. This is all tied to the Callaway Ridge Trailhead that opened about this time last year at the roundabout of Concord Road and Northshore Drive. It was just phase one of the project. The four phases eventually will create pedestrian access linking the areas both east and west of The Cove at Concord Park.

I should also note that we plan to open our three splash pads around mid-May, and that the New Harvest Park Farmers Market will be up and running every Thursday from 3-6 p.m. beginning the middle of this month.

Our crews as always have been pretty busy. They’ve painted the restrooms at Ball Camp Park, put a new coat of teak oil on the swing at Clayton Park, repaired the dog bag box at the I.C. King dog park, fixed lighting issues (one at New Harvest Park) and have mowed everywhere.

The Concord Park crew spent time fixing the door opener at the Farragut Park baseball bathrooms. the water fountain at the Concord Park dog park; and patched a lot of potholes. In fact, they put down roughly five tons of asphalt!

“There were a lot of potholes, and they were deep,” said James Major, the Concord Park superintendent.

Of course. it wouldn’t be a column without mentioning our one-man machine, Frank Christian. Here’s a text he sent me this week: “Working on minor lighting issues at Forks of the River Park; put up seven new park name signs; weekly graffiti cleanup at Ten Mile Greenway. Job security, ha! Pressure washing at Sterchi Park; was graffiti in restroom at Walker Springs Park (but the) cleaning crew handled that.”

On the recreation side, we have the Women’s Softball Homerun Derby April 27 and the Men’s event on April 28 – both at the Sportspark in Karns

The Beaver Creek Flotilla will take place on May 14 and the Junior MLB Homerun Derby on May 20. We also plan some lawn game events at Carl Cowan Park on May 22 from 3-6 p.m.

As of now, we have confirmed that CJ’s Tacos and Gelato Brothers food trucks will attend the lawn game event. We also plan to have B97.5 there with their van to play music and set up a tent with their bee mascot. We will provide games such as ladder ball, spike ball, cornhole, etc. Additionally, we plan to have a blow-up mini sports arena that includes soccer and basketball goals for small children to enjoy.

Enjoy these photos from work around the county: