Conserving Our Natural Resources, Creating Public Places, Connecting Communities

Legacy Parks Foundation is an East Tennessee nonprofit organization working to ensure that our community enjoys exceptional recreational opportunities, natural beauty and open spaces, and that these assets exist for generations to come. We work collaboratively to preserve our area’s extraordinary natural resources and to expand parks, create trails, and increase access to our rivers. Since 2007, Legacy Parks has raised over $11 million for parks and open space, helped conserve 1,000 acres of forest and farmland, and added over 600 acres of parkland in Knox County.

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Our Areas of Focus

Preserve our Ridges and Views

Knoxville has the gift of geography. Situated in the heart of the Tennessee Valley, we enjoy a varied terrain with a beautiful mix of lush valleys and breathtaking ridge views. With continued growth throughout the county, we have the opportunity to help strike a healthy balance between development and conservation by proactively working to preserve our ridges and views and allow them to maintain their greatest public benefit.

Connect Our Greenways and Trails

It’s easy to see why greenways consistently rise to top of the list of the recreational assets that the community would like to see expanded. They provide health, environmental, and transportation benefits. While funding is always a consideration, land acquisition is the first stumbling block that often impedes connecting and expanding our greenway system. Legacy Parks plays a significant role in greenway expansion by proactively acquiring property and easements from businesses and individual donors.

Maintain the Health of and Access to Our Waterways

Knoxville’s history and growth is tied to our waterways. James White built the fort that became Knoxville just below the junction of the French Broad and Holston Rivers. Our rivers continue to define much of our region. Legacy Parks works diligently to ensure the waterways remain healthy by preserving their shorelines and creating more public access so these beautiful waterways can be enjoyed for recreation.

Create Recreational Opportunities for the Underserved

Legacy Parks can serve both as a fiscal agent for raising funds for specific projects and be a champion for projects for which there is a public demand but no funding.

We work to acquire grant funding to help alleviate the financial barriers that communities may face. “Access to safe parks, greenways and sidewalks” is a health priority identified by the 2015 Together Healthy Knox initiative. Legacy Parks aims to bring recreation to neighborhoods and communities that don’t have access to encourage physical activity and develop healthy habits.

Exceed the National Average for Public Parks and Green Space

As a community, we should expect more than to simply meet the nationwide per capita averages for parkland and recreational services – we should aspire to exceed them. Exceeding the national average demonstrates that we are a healthy community with abundant opportunities and protection of our natural assets. It defines us as a good community in which to live and do business.

Legacy Parks works proactively to acquire land and raise funds to expand our parks and green spaces. By doing so, we help position our community as one to be admired.