Legacy Parks Foundation and the City of Knoxville opened the Scott Cleland trail at West Hills Park, adding a one-mile, natural surface trail to the existing two miles of greenways in the city park.
The new trail honors Scott Cleland, brother of Nancy Cleland, the donor who made the trail possible. Nancy bequeathed her property adjacent to West Hills Park to Legacy Parks Foundation to support the mission of the non-profit and to honor her brother. Nancy was most known for the miniature ponies she raised on her land on Vanosdale Road. Legacy Parks gave four acres of donated land to the City of Knoxville to help accommodate the new trail. Plans are to surface the trail with compacted stone and build an introductory bike skills area across the greenway from the trail early next year.
“We’re grateful that Nancy allowed us the create another amenity in an already great city park,” said Carol Evans, Legacy Parks executive director. “Natural surface trails are easy on the joints, provide both solitude and adventure and expand the options for ways in which everyone can enjoy the outdoors.”
Several other projects City of Knoxville projects were celebrated at the ribbon cutting. The City of Knoxville worked with the West Hills Neighborhood Association in their efforts to build an information kiosk using partial funds from the Park and Recreation Challenge grant. The city also resurfaced the basketball court, pickleball courts (6) and tennis courts (11). Earlier this month, a toddler playground was installed on the other side of the park from the trail.
“The partnership with Legacy Parks Foundation allows us to add a new feature to this park that is not found in the area, said Indya Kincannon, City of Knoxville Mayor. “We look forward to many years of use by generations of families in West Hills.”
