My boss, Farragut Parks & Recreation Director Sue Stuhl, has spent many hours working on the new Parks & Rec master plan with her door shut. Sue doesn’t normally mind us barging into her office to ask questions, so when she closes her door, we know she’s serious. (The new master plan, which includes lots of interesting stuff, should go before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in May, but that’s a topic for another column.)
As part of the plan, Sue has compiled a history of the parks & rec department – a nine-page document that includes each property purchase, greenway link, park improvement, event, grant and award, among other things. I recommend reading the full document once it’s available, especially if you love this town and its unique history.
I’ve put together a brief summary of Sue’s history. When you look at the timeline, it’s obvious that parks, as well as greenways, develop over time. Parks like McFee are the result of multiple property purchases and years of planning. Plans are sometimes updated before construction begins because budgeting for large projects takes so long that needs have changed before ground can be broken.
Do you remember what you were doing when these things happened?
1980 Farragut incorporates
1983 Town purchases nine acres on Turkey Creek Road for a future park (Anchor Park)
1984 Town dedicates Anchor Park with a softball field, soccer field, walk trail and exercise stations
1985 Town purchases 26 acres on Watt Road for future park (Mayor Bob Leonard Park)
1986 The first section of Farragut greenway opens on Turkey Creek Road, across from Anchor Park
1988 Mayor Bob Leonard Park dedicated with two softball fields, parking lot and walk trail
1990 Town purchases additional 11 acres for Mayor Bob Leonard Park
1992 Playground and additional parking lot completed at Mayor Bob Leonard Park
1993 Town purchases 13 acres on Campbell Station Road for Campbell Station Park (now Founders Park at Campbell Station)
1995 Town purchases 26 acres of property on McFee Road for a future park (McFee Park)
1998 Greenway construction completed near Grigsby Chapel Road (Grigsby Chapel Greenway)
1999 Phase 1 of Founders Park completed, including lighted walk trail, open lawn, landscaping and bridge
2001 Town purchases 5.5 acres adjacent to Founders Park
2008 Town purchases 16.9 acres adjacent to McFee Park
2009 McFee Park Phase 1 opens with two lighted rectangular fields, restroom/storage, parking and lighted walk trail
2010 McFee Park Phase 2 completed, including playground, splashpad, two large picnic shelters, walk trail, restroom/storage and additional parking; Town purchases 9.48 acres adjacent to McFee Park
2011 Opened the town’s first splashpad at McFee Park for the summer season
2016 Constructed a $530,000 splashpad to replace the much smaller facility at McFee Park
2017 Completed renovations at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, including a new restroom, conversion of a third field to synthetic turf and additional parking
2020 Dedication of Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza at the Campbell Station Inn
2021 Opened BlueCross Healthy Place at Town Hall, which includes an accessible playground, fitness station and pavilion
2022 Opened McFee Park Phase 3, including tennis/pickleball courts, basketball court, pavilion and restrooms, Great Lawn, walk trail and additional parking
The Town of Farragut has spent 40 years creating public spaces that serve residents and attract visitors. None of these spaces have happened by accident; they’re the result of budgeting, planning and continuous maintenance by generations of staff and elected officials. If you enjoy a Farragut park or greenway this spring, appreciate those who made it happen.
Town of Farragut marketing and public relations coordinator Wendy Smith is your reliable Farragut insider.