KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — City leaders cut the ribbon on a new interactive sidewalk mural at Fort Kid Park Wednesday afternoon, gathering near World's Fair Park after construction was completed on the new play area.
After it was demolished in 2020 amid hazards and safety concerns, the city has gone to work in recent years to revamp the playground. The new park, located in the same location near World's Fair Park, now features new accessible play surfaces, a merry-go-round and a fort tower with a slide.
In total, the project cost around $1.3 million and was funded through donations, as well as contributions from the Downtown Knoxville Alliance and Visit Knoxville.
Now, the well-known playground is adding a mural to its new look.
Dustin Durham, a local artist, created the interactive "game board" with prompts and questions through the sidewalk leading into the park, along with help from others who attended community paint days.
The mural also hopes to serve as a reminder about the nearby Knoxville Museum of Art, encouraging visitors to step inside and explore its exhibits.
Funding for the project came from the American Rescue Plan Act. Fort Kid plans to add an additional paint design along its crosswalk in early spring 2024.