KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Families enjoyed a gorgeous summer day with new amenities recently opened at Lakeshore Park over the past year.
The park has completed 15 new construction projects — most recently it completed the construction of four new Little League baseball fields as part of the new Jim Haslam Sports Center.
The Lakeshore Park Conservancy, a private organization, has invested around $36 million into the second phase of upgrades for the park. Knoxville also spent $6 million for roads and parking lots in a public-private partnership with the conservancy.
“It's nice to feel like kids and families are important,” said Tori Ringer, a mom enjoying the park with her children on Tuesday. “It's good to get the kids outside and let them get exercise. And they meet so many friends and other kids here.”
Still to come in the next two months are six pickleball fields, a basketball court, a garden and more renovations to the outer loop walking trail.
“Extensive repairs were made to the 25-year-old trail system, and some trail sections were realigned to improve the walking experience,” said Alyssa Maddox, the Director of Communications and Programming at the conservancy. “The new park improvements and new trail sections should enhance visitor usage in previously underutilized areas of the park.”
So far, the park has added two new playgrounds, connection paths for walking trails, renovated bathrooms, improved soccer fields, an amphitheater, an outdoor workout facility and more.
“Returning visitors can expect to see less sports activity in the center of the park and more sports activity on the western end of the park near Northshore Drive. They can also expect to see children playing throughout the park on the four park playgrounds,” Maddox said.