Knoxville, Tenn. – Legacy Parks Foundation helped make it easier for students and outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities to get on the Dogwood Community Trails with the construction of an adaptive pathway and trail redesign at Dogwood Elementary School.
The rubberized pathway leads out of the back of the elementary school and connects to an existing path that leads to the Dogwood Community Trails. The entry trail was modified to accommodate adaptive mountain bikes and all-terrain wheelchairs. Legacy Parks donated a GRIT all-terrain wheelchair to the school for use by students on the trail.
“We’ve learned that often there are simple modifications, additions or design practices on the front-end that can make our trails accessible to everyone of all abilities. It’s being mindful that sometimes removing a small barrier can be transformative to who and how our outdoor assets are used. This is a great example of short path with a big impact,” explained Carol Evans, Legacy Parks executive director
Dogwood Elementary School has actively worked to connect their students and staff to the outdoors. To support this effort, the Knox Education Foundation’s Community Schools initiative formed the Dogwood Outdoor Coalition. For the past six years, this group of community stakeholders met monthly to develop and enhance Dogwood’s outdoor classrooms through grants, partnerships, and volunteer days. Nearly three miles of trail behind the school are the result of their efforts.
More information and a map of the trails can be found at outdoorknoxville.com.
Legacy Parks Foundation is an East Tennessee nonprofit that works to conserve our natural resources, create public places, and connect communities. The goal is to ensure that the region enjoys exceptional recreational opportunities and natural beauty and that these assets exist for generations to come. To date, Legacy Parks has raised more than $11 million, added 500 plus acres of parkland for Knox County, and helped conserve 1,000 acres of natural space in East Tennessee.
