Shopper Blog: City seeks input as it updates Play Knoxville, its Parks and Recreation Master Plan
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Jack Coker, Shopper News
The public engagement phase for Play Knoxville, the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan, is officially underway. This plan will guide investments in parks, greenways, community centers and recreational programming for the next decade.
It's been over 15 years since Knoxville last updated its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and with the city's population growing by nearly 10,000 residents in the last five years, now is the time to ensure outdoor spaces keep pace with community needs.
The planning process kicked off in January with a steering committee of community leaders. Since then, city staff and consultants from Perez Planning + Design have been hard at work, conducting dozens of focus groups, meeting with Knoxville City Council and community leaders, and visiting nearly 70 parks across Knoxville to assess conditions. Now they're asking for feedback from the people who use these spaces the most: Knoxville residents.
Over the coming weeks, community members will have multiple opportunities to provide input, including attending neighborhood meetings, engaging on social media and sharing their thoughts via an online survey. The city has also launched an interactive mapping tool where residents can pinpoint specific locations and suggest improvements.
The Play Knoxville website, PlayKnoxvilleTN.com, is live and serves as a hub for community engagement. Residents can take the 15–20-minute survey, which is modeled after similar planning efforts in cities like Atlanta, Louisville and Miami, to help identify priorities for Knoxville's parks and recreation system.
A Parks and Recreation Master Plan is more than just a list of future projects — it's a roadmap for how Knoxville will develop and maintain its parks, programs and facilities for years to come. The plan will identify current needs, anticipate future demand and provide a phased approach to implementation over the next decade. Short-term projects (one to three years), mid-term goals (four to six years) and long-term initiatives (seven to 10 years) will be outlined to ensure strategic, sustainable improvements across the city.
Beyond enhancing recreation opportunities, this plan is also a critical tool for securing funding. Historically, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation required that local departments update their master plans every five years to guide state funding allocations. While TDEC is revising its approach, Knoxville's renewed focus on parks planning aligns with broader city initiatives, including the Greenway Corridor Feasibility and Assessment Study, the Urban Forest Master Plan and the One Year Plan.
Parks are more than just green spaces; they're places where communities connect, children play and Knoxville's character shines. If you have ideas for improving your neighborhood park or expanding recreational opportunities across the city, now is the time to make your voice heard.
Visit PlayKnoxvilleTN.com to take the survey, drop a pin on the map and get involved in shaping the future of Knoxville's parks and recreation system. Your input today will help create the parks of tomorrow.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Condé Nast Traveler
6 days ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
15 Best Airbnbs in Edinburgh, From a Converted Warehouse to a Medieval Retreat
Edinburgh is filled with secret retreats for a city-break escape, hidden down cobbled mews or tucked away in friendly neighborhoods. With traditional high ceilings, excellent comforts, quirky interiors, and clever design, these are the ultimate Airbnbs in Edinburgh. All are within walking distance of the Scottish capital's best things to do, the best restaurants in Edinburgh, and the top places to drink in Edinburgh. For more options, see our pick of the best Airbnbs in Scotland. While we have not stayed in every Airbnb featured, we have carefully selected these as recommendations based on their location, design, previous guest reviews, and the fact that they have achieved Airbnb's Superhost status at the time of our research.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Shopper Blog: Moon Phase Crystals owner's belief in stones' healing power is rock solid
HALLS Al Lesar, Shopper News With her life lacking structure and focus in 2014, Randi Byrd was searching for an answer. The Halls resident found the solution at a women's empowerment retreat in North Carolina. 'There was a crystal vortex in the center of the room,' Byrd said. 'It was pure quartz. I was there with all sorts of people from all backgrounds. 'While I was there, my life changed. I felt like I owned my power. I stepped into my time.' Byrd, who grew up in Powell, is convinced that crystal vortex had a role in helping her come to grips with taking charge of her own life. While there she bought a moldavite pendant necklace she still wears every day. 'That crystal reminds me every day that I can,' Byrd said. 'Whatever it is, I can. It clarifies any doubts that I might have. It gives me the confidence in my life.' A licensed practical nurse, Byrd's medical knowledge allows her to believe in the crystal. 'I'm a healer already,' she said. 'The crystals can help me with what I do.' Byrd's belief in the power of crystals over the last decade came to a head a few months ago when she launched an online crystal shop, Moon Phase Crystals. 'I've been purchasing inventory from wholesalers and factories,' Byrd said. 'If something catches my eye, I'll buy it.' Options include carvings, figurines and Byrd's favorite, spheres. There are towers, free forms, raw or polished material. Crystals range in price from $5 to $250. 'I think they're beautiful, and there's a variety,' Byrd said. 'The big selling point is that there's something for everybody.' Byrd said there are crystals that absorb negative energy, enhance energy flow, offer financial wealth or decrease anxiety. 'I'm constantly trying to update the inventory and upload new options,' Byrd said. There is no room for skepticism with crystals, which Byrd acknowledges as being a legitimate concern. 'If I have to convince somebody of the benefits, it's not for them,' Byrd said. 'I want people to come to me. I can offer any sort of healing. People need to come to me with an open mind. They have to believe in what they're doing and what can be done by the crystals. 'I came away from that conference with the way I wanted to live. I lean toward more of the metaphysical explanations. I know I've changed and I've liked the change.' In addition to her crystal business, Byrd is also a certified yoga instructor. Though she doesn't teach any formal classes, she is scheduled to spend 24 days in Peru this summer immersed in a yoga training session. 'Someday I can see teaching in my plans,' she said. 'It could be a crystal/yoga shop. That would tie two things I love together.' For more information or to order go to Moon Phase Crystals Facebook page or NORTH KNOXVILLE Jack Coker, Shopper News The city of Knoxville's two outdoor public pools opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend. Here's what you need to know if you're planning to visit. Pool hours are, weather permitting, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 per person per visit. Frequent swimmers can save by purchasing a Splash Pass at a discounted rate. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to call ahead or fill out a form online to help staff prepare and to receive a group discount. Interested in lifeguarding? The city is hiring lifeguards and water safety instructors. If you or someone you know is a strong swimmer who wants to get certified, reach out to the aquatics staff at aquatics@ The Ed Cothren Pool, 1737 Reynolds Street, holds 275,000 gallons of water and features a diving board, an accessible entry ramp and a shaded baby pool. It's a great spot for families with young children, thanks to the nearby concession stand and plenty of covered tables. The pool sits inside Malcolm-Martin Park, which includes a basketball court, baseball field, playground, picnic shelter and paved 0.3-mile greenway loop. This pool also holds historical significance. It's named after Ed Cothren, a Knoxville College graduate and First Lieutenant in the Army who became the first Black soldier from Knoxville to die in combat during World War II. Meanwhile, over at Inskip Pool, 4204 Bruhin Road, you'll find a 285,000-gallon pool with two low diving boards and a high dive. There's also a shallow wading pool for little ones, three pavilions for shade and a sand volleyball court to keep the fun going on dry land. Like the Ed Cothren pool, it has its own surrounding park, complete with a playground, three tennis courts that are lined for pickleball, a walking loop and a nine-hole youth disc golf course. For more information, including Splash Pass details, weather-related closures or to plan a group visit, check out or give the pools a call directly: Inskip Pool: 865-687-9919Ed Cothren Pool: 865-544-7840 This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shopper News brings you the latest happenings in your community
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Introducing the first-ever CNN Underscored Innovation Awards, highlighting the year's most ingenious products
The internet is packed with product reviews by a huge herd of reviewers and service journalists telling you which products they think are best. That's why, in 2026, we're introducing our biggest feature yet: the first-annual CNN Underscored Innovation Awards. This new program aims to cut through that clutter and acknowledge the year's truly inspired products that can improve your day-to-day through outstanding design, functionality and ingenuity. These products aren't just original, though; they also have a clear purpose, and they make users' everyday lives more efficient, convenient and enjoyable. Think: a vacuum cleaner that picks up your socks, a meat smoker that brings the joy of barbecue indoors or an electric flosser that makes maintaining oral hygiene easy — and maybe even a little fun. Rather than bestowing yet another accolade upon the same old 'award-winning' products you're used to seeing on these lists, it's the combination of inventiveness, usefulness and value that we'll highlight through this initiative. Winners will be determined via rigorous hands-on testing by our writers and editors, who will put these products through their paces in real-life scenarios. We'll also focus on each product's value — is it reasonably priced, and does the price sync well with the cost per use? — and consult experts to ensure we're 100% confident in our recommendations. We're now accepting submissions for the 2026 CNN Underscored Innovation Awards. If you have a product you think we should consider, here's what you need to know. In order to submit a product for consideration, please fill out this form (one product per submission, please, but multiple submissions per brand are allowed). The deadline for all submissions is Oct. 15, 2025. Eligibility Product must have been released between Jan. 1, 2024, and Oct. 15, 2025 Product must be widely available for purchase in the US by Dec. 31, 2025 We're seeking submissions from the list of product categories below. Beauty and grooming Electronics Travel Outdoors Home Fitness and wellness Samples for testing Samples are required for participation and must be received by Oct. 15, 2025. They can be mailed to the address below. CNN Underscored / DaVonne Bacchus30 Hudson Yards, 21st FloorNew York, NY 10001 Evaluation criteria Performance and efficiency Innovation Design and build quality Market impact Value and accessibility Timeline Winners will be announced in January 2026. Contact If you have questions, feel free to reach out to CNN Underscored thoroughly tests the products we review and provides full transparency about our testing methodology. We're made up of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted.
