Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Shari Meghreblian and Gov. Bill Haslam announced on Monday a series of more than $15 million in grants for parks and recreation projects across Tennessee.
More than 17 projects in East Tennessee will receive some of that grant funding, according to a statement from TDEC.
The $15 million of funding is divided into two types of grants.
The first type, Local Park and Recreation Fund grants, require a 50 percent match by the recipient and can be used by local governments to purchase or develop land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities. $13.5 million of the total is LPRF grants.
The remaining $2.1 million will go towards Recreation Trails Program grants, which can be used by government agencies or nonprofits for non-routine development, maintenance and construction of trails or trailhead site. These require a 20 percent match from the recipient.
East Tennessee LPRF Grant Recipients
Grainger County, Blaine: $50,000
- The existing Blaine playground will get a brand new playground that meets standards and ADA compliance.
Blount County: $72,500 to the Everett Recreation Center
- The current wood gymnasium floor at the Everett Recreation Center will be replaced.
Anderson County, Clinton: $115,000 for a playground
- Clinton will purchase a new all inclusive playground for children of all abilities, and ADA compliance.
Jefferson County, Dandridge:$100,000 to Field of Dreams
- The Field of Dreams will get a splash pad and gravel parking lot. The park will also be made ADA compliant.
McMinn, County Etowah: $375,000 to Etowah City Park
- Etowah City Park will construct a new 30' x 60' swimming pool and pool house and make ADA compliance updates.
Knox County, Farragut: $325,000 to Anchor Park
- Anchor park will demolish and the reconstruct the restroom, get a new entrance plaza, and make ADA compliance updates.
Sevier County, Gatlinburg: $500,000 to Mynatt Park ADA Compliance
- ADA compliance improvements at Mynatt Park will include trail improvements, parking, and access paths to park elements.
Roane County: $412,500 to Triangle and Harriman Parks
- Triangle Park: The existing playground will be replaced with a new play structure and certified surface material and ADA compliance.
- Harriman Community Center: The HCC will receive funding for a splash pad, concession building, shade structures, parking, and ADA compliance updates.
Fentress County, Jamestown: $200,000 for a pool, $225,000 for sports field renovations
- The existing pool will be renovated. Another pool with a zero entry design and splash pad components will be added.
- Money will go toward the development of one baseball field with a fence, grading for a soccer field, restrooms/maintenance room, a concession stand and parking and street lighting.
Loudon County: $500,000 to Central Park
- Central park will get specific splash pads, a pavilion structure with restrooms, parking lot and ADA compliance updates.
Claiborne County: $85,000 to Tazewell Park
- Renovation improvements will include upgrades to the existing ballfield playing surface and the replacement of water fountains.
- New developments include the construction of a new gazebo, picnic tables, the installation of pedestrian lighting along the lower portion of the existing walking trail and ADA compliance updates.
Monroe County: $500,000 for Heritage Park Improvements
- Funding will go towards development of a little league field including fencing, bleachers, dugouts and ADA compliance updates.
East Tennessee RTP Grant Recipients
Knox County, Knoxville: $200,000 to the Legacy Parks Foundation
- Development of a parcel of land adjacent to the Powell Library will be preserved as a natural park and greenway along Beaver Creek Watershed, and ADA compliance.
Anderson County, Norris: $89,600 for trail maintenance
- Acquisition of trail maintenance equipment to help repair trails, washouts, dips and bars, and other related trail infrastructure.
Monroe County: $100,000 to the Fort Loudon State Historic Park
- A prefabricated restroom at the trailhead, replacement of a small section of the existing asphalt trail has been damaged by tree roots, and ADA compliance
Grant recipients were selected through a scoring process that took into account projects that met the selection criteria and expressed the greatest local recreation need.