BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — When Blount County started building its greenway system, it consisted of about 9 miles. The Blount Partnership said the system has now grown to a little over 15 miles but also said the miles are segmented into different sections.
Jeff Muir, the Blount Partnership director of communications, said that in the last few years, many younger people have left the area. Now, he said they're trying to get those people back and convince the ones that already live in Blount County to stay.
"We're trying to really keep our 20-35-year-old people here," Muir said. "This is kind of an age gap that has been leaving the area and we're really trying to recruit them back into this area."
He said there were several other reasons the county was looking at expanding its system of greenways, such as creating more access to nature and improving people's mental health.
"People work long, eight-hour shifts or whatever, during the day. Then they come home, relax, and it's just a quick portal," Muir said. "A quick portal out onto the greenway that gives them that mental health relaxation area."
He also said greenways give access to different parts of the Blount County community, making commuting less stressful.
"You have access to different residents, different restaurants, different stores along the greenway," Muir said. "So, that just makes coming home a little bit better."
Eventually, he said Blount County leaders hope the greenway system would be part of a 45-mile stretch of trails stretching from Knoxville all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains.
"As you're seeing the new Alcoa bypass be worked on, the Greenway system will definitely follow that along the way," Muir said. "But we're also seeing new companies like Smith & Wesson, Amazon and even a 30-year-old company, Denso, really want to be tied into the Greenway"