KNOXVILLE, Tenn — The Legacy Parks Foundation cut the ribbon on a new playspace in north Knox County on Wednesday, inviting people of all ages to gather and have fun at a place designed to give everyone a chance to get active.
Legacy Parks said the new intergenerational playspace is the first of a kind in East Tennessee, and it was especially designed to give both children and seniors a chance to enjoy themselves. The playspace was partly funded through a $150,000, two-phase grant from the Trinity Health Foundation.
That money was used to research, design and create the playspace. The foundation used additional grants from Knox County to build it. Humana also sponsored a therapeutic zone that includes rehabilitative exercise equipment, as well as low-impact bodyweight exercises. The equipment in this area of the playspace focuses on balance, muscle tone and fall prevention.
"The intent of the park’s design is to create a place for rehabilitation and reflection, a place for generations to interact through activity, to stimulate the brain, body and the senses with a variety of physical, visual, audible, and cognitive experience for all generations, and to take full advantage of all the benefits of being outdoors in nature," Legacy Parks said in a release.
The foundation broke ground on the site in April 2023 at Beverly Park.
The playspace is surrounded by benches and a music play area with a shade covering at the end. The music area includes chimes, drums and a xylophone. A small, soft rubber track in the play space features an inner ring dedicated to play equipment and rehabilitation activities.
A half-mile walking trail also leads to a garden and meadow habitat, wrapping around the central area. The soft-surface walking path also includes a "Walking Storybook," as part of the library's system of Storybook Trails.
Partners will be able to use the space for rehabilitation exercises with seniors, giving them a chance to through rehabilitation treatment outdoors.