16-05-2025
New memorial park open in Knoxville overlooking East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The French Broad Veterans Memorial Park in Knoxville is open following years of planning and $1.8 million in donations.
Legacy Parks Foundation cut the ribbon on the French Broad Veterans Memorial Park on May 16. The park, which overlooks the French Broad River and the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, has been in the works since the spring of 2019, when Carol Evans, the foundation's executive director, sought help to develop a park off of Governor John Sevier Highway on 8.5 acres of land donated by Blue Water Industries.
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'We're extremely proud of this veterans park. It was a very, very collaborative effort. A lot of the veteran groups helped, supported us, told us what they needed, told us what they wanted, and we were just so fortunate to get this land, right across from the veterans' cemetery. Close to 10 acres just donated to Legacy Park, so it was a great gift,' said Evans.
Legacy Park worked to design the park with veterans organizations. The design plan was made by the East Tennessee Community Design Center. The park includes a covered pavilion for events with a capacity for up to 75 people as well as private areas for reflection and small gatherings. The park also includes a paved walkway with memorials and a viewing area overlooking the river and veterans' cemetery. There is also a memorial wall honoring individual veterans and a flag courtyard honoring the six branches of service.
'Several elements in the park really are reflecting the veterans. The Court of Flags, where we're displaying all of the service flags. The memorial walk, where we have the ability to install 10 more monuments to individual services or honors, and then the pavilion to be able to accommodate group and events. So kind of those three things we were told were important,' said Evans.
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'Thanks to our partnership with Legacy Parks and Carol Evans the French Broad Veterans Memorial Park, overlooking the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, will add a much-needed park to the area,' said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. 'While its stunning views delight the eye, the rows of white headstones and the stories behind them fill our hearts. This will certainly provide veterans, their families, friends and loved ones a place to reflect.'
In September 2020, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs announced the county government would put $250,000 towards the project. Construction began in 2023 after Legacy Parks raised $1.3 million, the amount needed to begin construction, in October 2022.
Evans explained that they faced several challenges due to being so close to a quarry, but the design team was able to work through it even though it caused construction to take longer than expected.
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Overall, the foundation raised $1.8 million to support the park. They received donations from the state of Tennessee, U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett, who secured federal funding, and sponsors including Food City, former Gov. Bill Haslam, David and Sandy Martin, and the Stowers family.
The French Broad Veterans Memorial Park is located at 2302 East Governor John Sevier Highway in Knoxville. Legacy Parks plans to add a walking trail along the edge of the river bluff.
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