KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — To address its growing popularity and demands on infrastructure, Ijams Nature Center is making plans for new buildings, site improvements and a new parking fee, the center announced Tuesday.
The South Knoxville waterside non-profit, which highlights the region's bounty of flora and fauna, is unveiling a master plan that calls for parking lot improvements and work on Island Home Avenue as it bisects the area, a "Homesite Pavilion" for events, renovations to the visitors center and "a new, accessible canopy walkway allowing all visitors to move through treetops and over bluffs..."
The plan also includes new buildings at nearby Mead's Quarry, which has seen increasing public usage over the years. Ijams consists of about 320 acres.
"We need facilities that are a little bit better, renovated, as well as facilities that are more accessible, and also being able to address some of the safety issues," said Amber Parker, the CEO of Ijams. "Whether you are in a wheelchair, whether you are mobile on feet, whatever you are going to be able to get out and experience the bluff system here at Ijams when often people could not."
A new, daily $5 parking fee will go into effect on Feb. 19, according to the center's Tuesday announcement and it will last the whole day.
The CEO said Ijams sees more than 600,000 visitors per year, and about 1,000 out of those are actually members or donors.
For people who have a low income, Ijams is offering a cheap way to secure parking.
"We have a level that's called the access for all level," Parker said. "That's only $10 a year and you can become a part of Ijams and be a member of that and have free parking. You know, based on your need."
People around the world visit Ijams as part of their East Tennessee experience, Parker said. Ijams is on 318 acres and has 14-plus miles of trails.
Ijams started with one family's interest in nature and birds in the early 20th century. The Ijamses bought 20 acres in 1910 that slowly evolved into the popular nature center it's become today, according to the Knoxville History Project.
"You can come to Ijams and go swimming, you can come to Ijams and go paddling, you can come to Ijams and take a science-based education program," Parker said. "You can come to items and just walk with your family, you can double the items and go climbing on a climbing crag, you can go ziplining."
Today, people of all ages visit to explore nature trails and greenways, to enjoy outdoor crafts and live music or just to find moments of solace near Fort Loudoun Lake.
“We offer the wonder of a wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Knoxville, world-class nature education programs for all ages, and a huge array of recreational activities. Our staff members are also sought-after nationwide for their expertise and environmental best practices,” Ijams said in a prepared statement.
The center, which has relied heavily on grants, donations and community support in the past, said Tuesday that work already is underway to improve parking lots, which have grown increasingly crowded with visitors.
As part of improvements, the center aims to boost memberships, which go to support operations.
New membership levels include access to free monthly programs, and free parking when the daily parking fee goes into effect next month, according to the center.
Annual passes will be available for $50. The nature center will offer free parking days during the year.
“We want more East Tennesseans to cultivate a relationship with Ijams and become part of the community that makes Ijams great,” said Andy Oakes in a prepared statement, the Ijams Board President.
What started out as a sleepy patch of nature known mostly to South Knoxvillians has now become a destination point in the metro area.
It now has about 620,000 visitors annually, according to Ijams.
"We want everyone to be able to come here and to never feel like they can't afford it," Parker said. "As the president and CEO, my job is as a caretaker while I'm here, my job is not to just caretake, but to set this place up so that it is a wonderful resource for people 100 years from now."
