We are grateful that the 2021 Legacy Luncheon for the Parks was another huge success thanks to our inspiring speakers and the more than 1,000 sponsors and Friends who gathered at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm along the beautiful Tennessee River to support our work.
Keynote speakers Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray shared their inspiring stories from their travels traversing Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail – one pushing the other 500 miles. Skeesuck and Gray imparted upon the hundreds of business and community leaders in attendance a story of friendship, hope, and sacrifice and insights learned along the way on what it means to overcome limitations – and push one another to be our best.
We were also thrilled to share the news of the recent and upcoming projects and successes over the last year
- The Tennessee River will gain a new public access point at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm.
- A $5 million Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy Place grant that was awarded to Legacy Parks late last year will create a multi-generational, multi-ability playspace at Morningside Park.
- Construction will begin later this year to create an adaptive trail at Dogwood Elementary School in south Knoxville.
- Furthering our mission to create adaptive access to recreation, Legacy Parks will create accessible trails in every quadrant of our city and county.
- Fundraising continues for the French Broad Veterans Memorial Park overlooking the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery which will offer a place for reflection, commemoration and celebration – and will honor our veterans for generations to come.
- Earlier this year, Legacy Parks opened Collier Preserve – a tranquil 12-acre nature park in Powell.
- Late last year Legacy Parks opened Sharp’s Ridge Playspace and Adaptive Trails – creating access to outdoor recreation to an underserved area and creating our region’s first adaptive trails.
The Legacy Luncheon for the Parks is our biggest fundraiser of the year, which allows us to continue our work of expanding and accessing our parks, trails, and waterways. A huge thank you goes to all of our sponsors, our elected officials in attendance, our wonderful board of directors, UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm for hosting us at the spectacular campus, and everyone who supported this wonderful event.
