Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), the city of Knoxville, Knox County and playspace nonprofit Kaboom! gathered with partners and volunteers July 29, 2026, to unveil a children-designed, community-built playground in Montgomery Village.
Approximately 150 volunteers joined to build the playground in roughly six hours at Community Unity Park in South Knoxville.
The playground is designed for children ages 5-12 and features two slides, two group swings, ladders and monkey bars, an adaptive merry-go-round and a Cozy Cocoon chair that offers sensory escape. Volunteers also installed an adjacent fitness area for adults with chin-up bars, parallel bars and a balance beam. An ADA-accessible path provides enhanced access. Volunteers also constructed benches and a shade structure to allow supervising adults to relax out of the sun.
The new playspace is part of a nationwide effort led by Kaboom! to end playspace inequity and ensure all children, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the numerous physical, social and mental health benefits of play.
Neighborhood children and adults helped conceive the playspace, sharing drawings and desires in community design sessions held in June. Those ideas were integrated into designs for the playspace, fitness area and side projects.
Additional support was provided by Chick-Fil-A, Five Star, Food City, Git-R-Gone, Ingles, Real Good Kitchen and Salsarita’s. KCDC coordinated community support and contributions to make the playground build a reality. The new playground is adjacent to Community Unity Greenway located at 4530 Joe Lewis Road.
Thanks to Catherine Howell for the photo and information.
Plucking the Flock
When U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett agrees with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and this writer and Mayor Glenn Jacobs join in, you’re looking at a mighty mess.
The issue – Flock Safety surveillance cameras which were funded by a $1.5 million federal grant and contracted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years, according to reporting by the News Sentinel. Sheriff Tom Spangler has agreed not to activate the cameras before his term ends on September 1, 2026, according to Jacobs. The first year’s cost is $800,000.
That dumps the contract and decision onto incoming Sheriff Brent Gibson.
If Gibson wants out, here’s a path.
Knox County Charter, Section 3.08, Part D
“It shall be the duty of the Law Director to … execute and administer all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices.
“No elected or appointed officer or employee of the County shall employ any other attorney to represent the County or any officer, board or member of the Commission unless he/she shall first be authorized and empowered to do so by resolution of the Commission.”
This writer’s email to Law Director David L. Buuck on August 3, 2026:
“David, In reading the News Sentinel story about the Flock contract, it occurs to me that the Sheriff’s Office probably did not run that contract by your office. Did you sign off on it?”
Reply from Buuck on Monday, August 3 at 8:32 a.m.
“Sandra, it was not submitted to our office for review.”
Commissioner Adam Thompson has a tall stack of questions. Burchett says ‘We gotta ban these dadgum things’ and has introduced a bill to do just that. He explains here. The Flock Safety program enables law enforcement to keep a record of the comings and goings of every motorist. That’s just too invasive.
The sheriff’s office is running wild – writing grants and signing contracts without consulting the mayor, the law director or the county commission. The technology exists to track each of us. But do we really want that to happen? Smacks of a police state.
Broadacres throws a block party
Broadacres Neighborhood Association in Powell held the first of what many hope will become an annual block party on July 25, 2026, at the field near the Crickett Pool. Organizers include (from left) Karen Wiseman, Rhonda Reitz, Jessica Green, Carl Reitz, Issac Merkle, Debbie Hempstead, Margaret Massey-Cox, Bob Hempstead, Jerry Sluder and Kathy Fitzgerald.
Empower Knox accepting applications for Emerging Leaders Council
Knoxville residents ages 18-24, as of September 1, 2026, interested in growing their leadership potential are invited to apply for the next cohort of the Mayor’s Emerging Leaders Council program. Participants will develop their skills learning about civic engagement, elected offices, Knoxville City Council and much more. The program will support nine driven young adults in their development as future leaders of Knoxville. Applications are due by Monday, August 17. Questions? Contact Emily Norris at enorris@knoxvilletn.gov or 865-215-3524.
Notes & quotes
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2026 Orchid awards, presented by Keep Knoxville Beautiful, is Monday, August 17, 2026. Details are here.
Cars for Canines will be Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST at Melton Lake Park. Sponsored by Explore Oak Ridge, the classic car show will benefit Oak Ridge Animal Shelter and Anderson County Humane Society. Last year’s event raised $8,000. Food trucks, live entertainment, low-cost microchipping and rabies vaccinations. Free admission for spectators. Pets on leashes or in carriers welcomed. Info here.
Farragut Band Boosters yard sale will be Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 8 a.m. until noon at Farragut High School. Info on donations: kristin.ricciuto@farragutband.org/.
Quote: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” President Dwight Eisenhower, 1953.
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Sandra Clark compiles obituary links and writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series includes topics of law, neighbors, schools, leaders and outdoors. Enjoyed this article? Read more Let’s Talk – Neighbors by Sandra Clark.
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I voted for Tom Spangler twice but am disappointed in his stance and implementation of these Flock cameras. These cameras are just another step toward “Big Brother” taking over. We already have some AI programs starting to do things on their own. We don’t need to add these spy cameras to the mix. Not to mention the sheriff did all of this without anyone’s permission. It’s kind of like the people over the data centers. But in this case, the sheriff is an elected official and should be held accountable.
Michael: You nailed it. I, too, voted for Spangler twice and am glad he won. But good grief. He’s asking his friends to defend the indefensible. Fingers crossed that Brent Gibson will stand strong. I believe he will.