KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Some big changes are on the way to some local parks and rec centers.
The Knoxville City Council approved three resolutions focusing on funding new and improved playground equipment Tuesday night.
The resolutions fund the design and installation of new playground structures at five different Knoxville parks and rec centers, including Paul Hogue Park, Inskip Norwood Recreation Center, Ashley Nicole Dream Playground, Skyline Park and Fountain City Park.
The Fountain City Park was recently gifted to the city of Knoxville by the Lion's Club. Mayor Indya Kincannon's 2021-22 budget included a quarter of a million dollars to improve the playground and walking paths to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities act accessibility standards.
The city also invested $750,000 to restore the ecosystem of the Fountain City Lake, including removing algae and invasive aquarium weeds, reducing the waterfowl population, and repairing the fountain and pump hose to aerate the water and keep it from stagnating.
The city said the lake is still a work in progress, but since 2014 significant improvements have been made, which has allowed the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to introduce winter trout fishing. The state said it would have not been able to do that even a few years ago because the lake had been choked by algae and invasive weeds.