Halls Greenway extension will connect community

We have some great news about the Halls Greenway extension. We recently received a $1 million state grant (pending Knox County Commission approval) that will let us build a connector from Clayton Park to Halls Elementary School. The county also will put up $1 million to pay for the project’s completion.

“We are committed to providing opportunities for everyone to thrive in an engaged and vibrant community,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “One of the ways we do that is supporting the expansion of outdoor assets like this.”

Jacobs said Commissioner Justin Biggs brought the matter to his attention.

“I’m thankful to be able to work with the Mayor and his amazing team because the hard work and dedication has led to the Halls Greenway extension becoming a reality,” Biggs said. “Many Knox County citizens will benefit from this great project.”

Added Parks and Recreation Senior Director Joe Mack: “This project will help improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and expand alternative transportation opportunities for the Halls community. This project will also provide the first safe pedestrian crossings to connect the residential Beaver Creek community areas and the commercial areas surrounding the Halls school properties.”

Also, speaking of the Halls Greenway, a portion of it between Norris Freeway to Andersonville Pike will be closed from Friday, Aug. 27, to Monday, Sept. 13, so KUB can rebuild a section of a high voltage transmission line.

In other parks news, earlier this week, the County Commission approved (on first reading – it needs two approvals) an ordinance to prohibit smoking and vaping on county-owned public parks, playgrounds, greenways and other public areas accessible by youth.

Our carpenters this week were pretty busy. First, they spent several days working on a new entrance sign at Guinn Road Park. Now, I know this might not seem like a big deal, but those folks build the sign and then have to pour the concrete and then get it set up. It’s not as easy as it looks or sounds – especially when it’s 90 degrees outside! Then they hustled over to Melton Hill Park to replace some posts and cable because some knucklehead drove through one.

“It never ends,” joked Dan Miller, one of the crew members.

The folks at Concord Park – like a lot of our crews – were super busy mowing and weed-eating. They also had to clear some overgrowth around a streetlight that’s part of our parks system. That was fun! Then that freak storm came in, knocking over a cluster of trees on the trail between Carl Cowan and Admiral Farragut parks. They got to work immediately on that job and the path is cleared.

On the recreation side, adult softball practice starts next week and the season begins Sept. 13. KMYFL football tonight and Saturday at John Tarleton Park. We have youth league baseball/softball practice games ongoing and adult soccer at Tommy Schumpert Park.

Enjoy this photo carousel of work around the parks: