KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A 30-acre Knox County park that offers families and teams a chance to play on several baseball and softball fields will soon be renovated after a $140,000 donation.
The Morgan Wallen Foundation said Thursday it would make the donation ahead of the country music singer's performance from inside Neyland Stadium. A release said the money would be given to the Gibbs Youth Sports program to renovate Gibbs Ruritan Park.
The renovations will include overhauling the fields, re-designing the field house, installing indoor batting cages, redesigning the pitching lanes and improving the fielding area. A release also said the money would be used to fix the park's scoreboard, dugouts, seating and more.
"I hope this opportunity helps create, you know, the ability for more kids to play sports in my hometown for years to come," said Wallen in a recorded video message.
Nate Stachey, the Gibbs Youth Sports President, said this donation will change the lives of the kids who play and practice at the park.
"Without what we've talked about, we'd be 15 years behind on getting these repairs done by ourselves," said Stachey. "So I can't thank them enough."
His mother Lesli Wallen handed the check over to Stachey on Thrusday.
"I actually walk up there at the Gibbs Youth Sports Ruritan Park sometimes, And I see how in disrepair the park is," said Wallen. "We just started conversations and, 'What do you need and what could we do to make this park a better park?'"
She said Morgan was a big baseball fan growing up, even loving it more than his love for music.
"Morgan loved baseball. I mean, that was his life. He loved it even more than music when he was growing up," said Wallen.
The park is located at 7827 Tazewell Pike and also offers a playground, a picnic area and bathrooms.
A release from the foundation also said it made high schools to the Powell High School Band, teh Gibbs High School Choral Program, Emerald Youth's Elston Turner Cam and more. It also said the foundation works to give children more access to sports and music, supporting programs in both areas.
It also said the foundation provides supplies after natural disasters and works to support communities during times of crisis.