Legacy Parks is creating our town’s first intergenerational playspace at Beverly Park on Tazewell Pike in east Knox County.
Through a $150,000 Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee grant awarded to Legacy Parks in 2022, the playspace will be created at the existing Knox County park. Trinity’s two-phase proposal/grant process seeks partners to address posted topics of interest related to the general health and well-being of our region.
Three groups have committed sizable, targeted donations and opportunities remain to get onboard.
- Hillcrest Healthcare will sponsor the soft-surface walking path around the playspace in honor of Mark Walker for his 16 years of service to the Hillcrest Board of Directors.
- Siddiqi Foundation awarded Legacy Parks a $25,000 grant to create a music garden which will feature chimes, drums, xylophone and other sound equipment for adults and children of all ages to make music together.
- Humana awarded Legacy Parks an additional $20,000 to sponsor the therapeutic zone which will feature rehabilitative physical exercise equipment and activities for low impact, body weight exercises to focus on balance, muscle tone and fall prevention. Hillcrest and other programming partners will be able to utilize the space for rehabilitation exercises with seniors in an outdoor environment.
With help from Ross/Fowler and healthcare and parks practitioners, a design was created that includes:
- An ellipse-shaped central activity area surrounded by a walking track with handrail
- Inside the ellipse will be the therapeutic zone and play area featuring equipment for both intergenerational play and physical exercise
- The playspace overlooks the newly added dog park and will connect to the existing paved loop
- Benches and a walking storybook trail feature will be added to the loop encouraging users to walk the loop to read the story – an ideal intergenerational activity
The TVA Retirees Association and Bicentennial volunteers will provide benches along the walkway to further their contribution to Legacy Parks and local parks. To date, they have funded benches at I.C. King Park, Sharp’s Ridge and Collier Preserve.
We expect to have the park built out this year – hopefully by fall. Once constructed, the park will be owned and managed by Knox County as a public park.
Volunteers needed for River Rescue
Ijams Nature Center is looking for volunteer site captains for its 34th annual Ijams River Rescue on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The deadline to sign up to be a captain is Feb. 15.
Now let’s look at some area events ahead:
Saturday, February 18
Old City Open: 8:30 a.m., Morningside Park. Info: Knoxville Disc Golf Association. C-tier · PDGA-sanctioned singles tournament. All Pools play two rounds at Morningside Park. Details and registration online.
Sunday, February 19
Whitestone 30K and 30K Relay Road/Trail: 7:50 a.m., Whitestone Inn on Watts Bar Lake. Info: Knoxville Track Club. Trail Race starts at 7:50 a.m., Road Race starts at 8 a.m. Rolling, scenic and rural course runs through the countryside. Register online.
Monday, February 20
Fun Run: 6:30 p.m. Bearden Beer Market. Free. Info: Bearden Beer Market at 865-851-8922. Social run leaving from Bearden Beer Market. Check Facebook for details and updates.
Tuesday, February 21
Intermediate Group Road Ride: 10 a.m., Cycology Bicycles. Free. Info: Cycology Bicycles at 865-681-4183. Route and pace determined by the leader and group. Route length is 30-35 miles at a 15-17 MPH average pace with regrouping along the route. Limited to 10 cyclists. Register online.
Wednesday, February 22
KTC Group Run: 6 p.m., Runners Market. Free. Info: Knoxville Track Club. Wednesday evening social pace group run. All paces welcome. Distance options vary.
Thursday, February 23
Open Group Run/Walk: 6:30 p.m., Fleet Feet. Free. Info: Fleet Feet Sports at 865-675-3338. Join us on Thursday evenings for a social run from the store to various greenway and/or neighborhoods. Details online.
Friday, February 24
Downtown Fun Run: 6:30 p.m., Pour Taproom. Free. Info: 865 Running. Join us every Friday for a 3-mile social run through downtown, World’s Fair Park and the river walk. Afterwards drinks with 10% off. All levels.
Saturday, February 25
Winter Tree Walk: 10 a.m., Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. Cost: Free/members; $5/non-members. Info: Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum at 865-862-8717. Join Board Member, Dan Steinhoff, on a guided tour of KBGA’s unique & historic tree collection, starting off in the late winter stages of their lifecycle. Register online.
Sunday, February 26
Knoxville Triathlon EXPO: 1:30 p.m., Pilot YMCA. Info: Personal Best Racing at 865-567-0358. EXPO features dozens of local partners including clubs, race companies, coaches, therapists, suppliers and more. Connect with athletes. Learn from speakers. Fun Run at 4:15 p.m. followed with Social Hour at 5 p.m. Details online.
Visit us online at OutdoorKnoxville.com Add your event to our calendar: Submit an event here
Carol Evans is executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation.