Collier Preserve Opens
Legacy Parks Foundation cut the ribbon to open Collier Preserve, a 12-acre park located in Powell. The project was funded by a grant from the State of Tennessee Recreational Trails Program. The new park is located on land that was donated to the Foundation in 2016 by Dr. Bob and Louise Collier of Powell. Features include an ADA walkway, nature path, native plants garden, birding platform, a kayak rest stop on Beaver Creek and a tranquil natural setting for observing wildlife. “We are thrilled to add another great place for the community to be outside and enjoy the many benefits of spending time in nature and playing in the woods,” said Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation. The property has been in the Collier family for many generations, serving as the homestead and farm for Dr. Collier’s grandmother, Stella B. Moore, and ancestors before her. Dr. Collier [...]
Adaptive Wheelchair Donated to Dogwood Elementary School
Legacy Parks donated an adaptive wheelchair to Dogwood Elementary School in South Knoxville. Legacy Parks purchased the GRIT Freedom Chair Jr. – a child size adaptive wheelchair that allows children to propel themselves over tough terrain using a unique lever system. The adaptive chair will make it possible for students with disabilities to access the greenways and trails surrounding the school. Access to the outdoor recreation areas will allow the students to be active, independent, and adventurous. Along with the donation of the chair, Legacy Parks will continue to secure funds to help transition the existing nature trails surrounding the school into adaptive, all-access trails so that children with disabilities can access the existing outdoor classrooms and trails. The modifications to the trail will include a wider footprint to accommodate the width of the wheelchair – the trail must be at least 36" wide, as opposed to common 18-24" [...]
42 Trees Planted At Collier Preserve
42 trees were added to Collier Preserve thanks to an Urban Trees Grant from the Tennessee Division of Forestry. Six new species of trees were added, which propels efforts forward to obtain an arboretum certification for the Preserve. More than 50 volunteers came out and helped dig holes and plant trees near the entrance of the park.
Legacy Parks receives gift of 14-acres
Legacy Parks received a donation of beautifully forested land from Arvin and Sabra Brown of Powell, protecting 14-acres of green space off Emory Road with access to Beaver Creek. The land will be developed with community input and eventually will become a Knox County park. The Brown family property sits directly across Emory Road from the new Powell High School Landing boat launch on Beaver Creek. Legacy Parks is helping protect and provide access to the creek by creating boat launches, adding parks and conserving land along Beaver Creek. The Brown family has longstanding history in Powell. The Browns School House was among the earliest gathering places in Powell, built between 1820 and 1830. The school’s boarding house was located across the street and still remains on the property and later became the home where Arvin grew up and where he lives with his wife Sabra to this day. Arvin’s father, Horace [...]