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. […]

Legacy Parks Foundation cut the ribbon to open the newest trail connection within Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. The new .3 mile trail runs along Blount Avenue and directly connects Mary Vestal Park to Fort Dickerson Park at the lower Augusta Quarry entrance. A portion of the trail passes through private property owned by Bobby Smelcer that is now under easement held by Legacy Parks Foundation. Smelcer’s plans for the property include the opening of Quarry Trails Campground and RV Park - urban camping sites coming in Spring 2022. Legacy Parks partnered with Contour Trail Design and City of Knoxville crews to create the trail. The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club provided funding for a portion of the trail located on city property. “Parks and trails are an important part of a community. When parks and neighborhoods are connected by safe walking and biking routes, it allows all members of the community [...]

Legacy Parks Foundation opened the newest trail at Sharp’s Ridge Memorial Park, funded by a grant from the Trinity Health Foundation. This new trail completes the Sharp’s Ridge Playspace project which opened November 2020 and features a playground, bike skills area and our region’s first adaptive trails – specifically designed to accommodate users with disabilities. The new 1.1-mile trail bends around the west side of the ridge to connect the adaptive trails – Independence and the North Loop Trail - on the north side with the existing 4.7 miles of multi-use trails on the south side. This trail addition provides direct access from the neighborhoods on the north side to the city park, where there was previously no entry point. Legacy Parks was awarded a two-phase grant from the Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee which funded the research, planning and construction of the Sharp’s Ridge Playspace and adaptive [...]