Parks and Recreation Makes Donations to Community
The Holiday Festival of Lights, which makes The Cove at Concord Park come alive with holiday lights and music, once again proved to be a great time for those who attended, and will continue to benefit our community as the donations of food and money are given to local non profit agencies. More than six large barrels of non perishable food products were collected from folks coming to view the lights. This, and half of the $1,600 in cash donated, will be presented to the Love Kitchen, which supplies meals and groceries to people in need.
The remaining half of the cash will be donated to the Legacy Parks Foundation.
“We are really thankful to all the citizens who came out to see the Holiday Lights and brought donations with them,” said Doug Bataille, Senior Director of Parks and Recreation for Knox County. “This is an event we provide free to the public, and it is great to see so many of them giving to others at the same time.”
Thanks to all who came out, donated goods, and to our supportive media sponsors – WVLT Volunteer TV, B97.5, the Knoxville News Sentinel, and MetroPulse.
Holiday Festival of Lights Sparkles at The Cove
Knox County’s Holiday Festival of Lights at The Cove at Concord Park will feature a new light display synchronized to music when it opens this year on December 18, at 6 p.m. Folks walking through the park will enjoy that and many more festive displays of the season.
A holiday tradition in West Knox County, The Cove is decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights, turning the park in to a twinkling winter wonderland. Along with the lights, bonfires will be roaring for roasting marshmallows and warming toes, and vendors will be on site with holiday treats like kettle corn, hot cocoa, and the fixings for S’mores.
The event runs through the December 28, from 6 until 9 p.m., but will be closed Christmas Day. Although it is free, donations of non-perishable food items will be collected for The Love Kitchen. A holiday gift and craft market will be in the park building, and Santa Claus will be there to delight the little ones.
The Cove is located at 11808 Northshore Drive. Pets on leashes are welcome!
Thanks to our great sponsors for this event, WVLT-Volunteer TV, B97.5, The News Sentinel, and MetroPulse.
Knox County Requests Input On Plumb Creek Park Plans
Knox County Parks and Recreation has released three concept plans for the new Plumb Creek Park property, 32 acres at 1517 Hickey Road, just south of Lovell Road. A public meeting will be held on November 17, at 6 p.m., at Ball Camp Elementary School, to go over the plans and get decisive feedback from the neighborhood...
Knox County would like your comments concerning the three different plans. Please fill out and return this form (click on link below) and return it to us.
Winners of Scarecrows in the Park Announced
Thanks to all the individuals, families, and organizations who participated in our first Scarecrows in the Park event at New Harvest Park. The event was enthusiastically received by the community, and was great fun for all involved. Twenty-seven creative and imaginative scarecrows were placed along the walking trail at the park for 10 days. During the first two days, the public voted for their favorites. Those votes, combined with the scores from four Celebrity Judges, selected our overall winners in both the adult and youth categories... more >>
Sarah Moore Greene Helps Open the Greenway Named for Her
Sarah Moore Greene (in wheelchair) is joined by students from the Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Technology Academy and (L to R) Doug Bataille, Sr. Director of Knox County Parks and Recreation; Steve Seifried, Director of Knoxville Botanical Garden; Bob Richards, TDEC Recreational Trails Program; Principal George Anna Yarbro; Mayor Mike Ragsdale; Representative Joe Armstrong; Senator Tim Burchett; County Commissioners Tank Strickland and Bud Armstrong; and Joe Walsh, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Knoxville.
Sarah Moore Greene and other community and state representatives were on hand Tuesday to cut the ribbon and open the new Sarah Moore Greene Greenway Loop at the elementary magnet school named in her honor. The Greenway, part of Knox County’s park system, includes nearly one-half mile of paved trail that links to neighborhood sidewalks, providing a safe route for walking to school. The trail winds through the school property, establishing needed connections to and from the playground and native gardens. In addition, a one-eighth mile oval track is available for physical education classes and for the community to use for exercise, establishing a link between the school and its neighbors.
The Greenway is a great example of cooperation among several different entities. Funding came from both the State of Tennessee and Knox County’s Air Quality Management; engineering was done by the City of Knoxville; and Knox County Parks and Recreation staff did the construction. Folks from the school helped with the design, and The Knoxville Botanical Garden is helping to restore and maintain the school’s native garden.
Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Technology Academy is located at 3001 Brooks Avenue in East Knoxville.
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