More Than $15 Million In Grants Secured For Tennessee's Parks And Recreation

Monday, August 20, 2018

Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Dr. Shari Meghreblian on Monday announced a series of grants totaling more than $15 million to help fund parks and recreation projects in Tennessee communities.

“Easy access to parks, trails, walking paths and other recreational facilities can make a good community a great community,” said Governor Haslam.

“These grants provide the resources needed to help make Tennessee an even more desirable place to live, work and raise a family.”

TDEC will award approximately $13.5 million in Local Park and Recreation Fund (LPRF) grants to 51 communities as well as approximately $2.1 million in Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants to 15 parks, communities and organizations across the state.

“Local parks and recreational facilities provide a valuable service to communities,” said Commissioner Meghreblian. “TDEC is happy to support these projects that lead to an increased quality of life for Tennesseans.”

The LPRF grant program was established by the General Assembly in 1991 to provide local governments with funds to purchase land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities. The funds also may be used for development of trails and projects in parks, natural areas and greenways. All LPRF grants require a 50 percent match by the recipient.

Grant recipients were selected through a scoring process with careful consideration given to the projects that met the selection criteria and expressed the greatest local recreation need.

The RTP is a federally-funded program established to distribute funding for diverse recreation trail projects. The funds are available to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations that have obtained IRS 501 (c) (3) status and have a written trail management agreement with the agency that owns the property where the trail project is located.

RTP grants may be used for non-routine maintenance and restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation, trailside or trailhead facilities such as restrooms, kiosks and parking lots, construction of new trails and land acquisition for recreational trails or corridors.

Funding for RTP grants is provided by the Federal Highway Administration through the Fixing Americans Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. TDEC administers this grant program for the state. The maximum federal share for each project is 80 percent, with RTP grant recipients providing a 20 percent match. Grant recipients were selected through a scoring process with careful consideration given to the projects that met the selection criteria and expressed the greatest local recreation need. For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/res-recreation-educational-services/res-recreation-educational-services-grants0.html.

RTP grants have been awarded to the following entities:

Applicant	County	Grant Amount	Grant Match	Project Scope Summary
Carthage	Smith	$88,000	$22,000	Construction of a 500 linear foot walking trail, the expansion of a 1,600 linear foot walking trail, and ADA compliance.
Cummins Falls State Park	Jackson	$200,000	$50,000	The project includes construction of an overlook over the existing observation points of Cummins Falls and ADA compliance.
Fall Creek Falls State Park	Van Buren	$100,000	$25,000	Resurfacing of the Lake Trail along the lakefront at Fall Creek Falls State Park, parking area on the end of the trail adjacent to the dam will also be expanded, paved, and the addition of an ADA parking space.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Park	Monroe	$125,600	$31,400	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.
Henderson	Chester	$200,000	$50,000	A new ADA walking trail with two pedestrian crosswalks to connect existing trails, and ADA compliance.
Hickory Valley	Hardeman	$151,280	$37,820	An ADA-compliant trail that circles an abandoned railroad bed and existing landscape and crosswalks to connect the businesses and residences.
Legacy Parks Foundation	Knox	$200,000	$50,000	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.

Lincoln County	Lincoln	$200,000	$50,000	Constructing an access road, parking area and restroom at the newly established Joy Gleghorn Preserve at Wells Hill Park in Fayetteville, and ADA compliance.
Norris	Anderson	$89,600	$22,400	Acquisition of trail maintenance equipment to help repair trails, washouts, dips and bars, and other related trail infrastructure.
Scotts Hill	Decatur/Henderson	$44,720	$11,180	Scotts Hill City Park improvements: adding length to existing trail, remove the existing trail segment to allow for the extension, repair and repave the entire 8' wide trail, and ADA compliance.
SORBA Chattanooga	Hamilton	$200,000	$50,000	Develop up to 10 miles of natural surface, sustainable, multi-use trail and ADA compliance on a new park being developed in Hamilton County near Chattanooga, Red Bank and Signal Mountain.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy	Carter	$200,000	$50,000	Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area improvements: ADA compliance, three pedestrian bridges, and signage.
Spring City	Rhea	$29,644	$7,412	Phase I of the Veteran's Lakeside Greenway project: convert an old highway bed to a multi-use trail, and ADA compliance.
T.O. Fuller State Park	Shelby	$200,000	$50,000	Constructing a trail using flexible porous pavement that is made of recycled car tires, and ADA compliance.
Whiteville	Hardeman	$75,520	$18,880	Creating an 8 ft. wide ADA compliant trail that circles the exterior of the City Park and will connect to and existing restroom and picnic area, and ADA compliance.

LPRF grants have been awarded to the following entities:

Applicant	County	Grant Amount	Grant Match	Project Scope Summary
Blaine	Grainger	$50,000	$50,000	Replace the existing playground with a brand new playground that meets standards and ADA compliance.
Blount County	Blount	$72,500	$72,500	Replacing the current wood gymnasium floor at Everett Recreation Center.
Carroll County Watershed Authority	Carroll	$250,000	$250,000	Continue developments at the recently constructed RV Park/Dam side of the Lake. The proposed project will include a paved walking trail, construction of a pavilion, construction of additional paved parking at the pavilion and existing comfort station, and site amenities. All project components will be ADA- compliant.
Clifton	Wayne	$148,000	$148,000	Installation of a new splash pad at Clifton River Park.
Clinton	Anderson	$115,000	$115,000	Replacing an existing playground with a new all- inclusive playground for children of all abilities, and ADA compliance.

Dandridge	Jefferson	$100,000	$100,000	Field of Dreams: splash pad and gravel parking lot, and ADA compliance.
East Ridge	Hamilton	$500,000	$500,000	Pioneer Frontier: playground replacement, splash pad, and ADA compliance.
Elkton	Giles	$15,500	$15,500	Develop four soccer fields at the Elkton City Park, a press box for the ball field and construct an ADA- approved parking lot with signage for those trying to access the City Park. Additionally, ADA improvements will be made to the concession/restroom building including a patio and sidewalk addition.
Etowah	McMinn	$375,000	$375,000	Construct a new 30' x 60' swimming pool and pool house at Etowah City Park, and ADA compliance.

Farragut	Knox	$325,000	$325,000	Anchor Park: demolition and reconstruction of the restroom, a new entrance plaza, and ADA compliance.
Fayetteville	Lincoln	$500,000	$500,000	Development of a soccer complex. Phase I includes the construction of one soccer field, grading for a future soccer field, a gravel parking lot, paved walkways for ADA access, paved ADA parking spaces, a paved restroom pad for portable restroom facilities, and necessary site work including landscaping, fencing and entry signage.
Fentress County	Fentress	$225,000	$225,000	Development of one baseball field with a fence, grading for a soccer field, restrooms/maintenance room, concession stand, parking and street lighting.
Gallatin	Sumner	$500,000	$500,000	Ballfield to include bleachers, lights, fencing, walkways, dugouts, scoreboard, artificial turf and backstop; concessions/restrooms to include building, equipment and picnic tables; press box to include building and equipment.

Gatlinburg	Sevier	$500,000	$500,000	ADA compliance improvements at Mynatt Park consisting of: trail improvements, parking, and access paths to park elements.
Greeneville	Greene	$190,000	$190,000	Inclusive Playground within Hardin Park, and ADA compliance.
Hancock County	Hancock	$75,000	$75,000	Phase I of a park at the Hancock County Industrial Park: grading and site preparation, developing a multi-use field and providing drive, parking and ADA compliance.
Harriman	Roane	$412,500	$412,500	Triangle Park: replacement of the existing playground with a new play structure and certified surface material, and ADA compliance. Harriman Community Center: splash pad, concession building, shade structures, parking, and ADA compliance.
Humboldt	Gibson	$498,375	$498,375	Improvements at Bailey Park including: repair sidewalks/bring into ADA compliance; renovate center restroom/ADA compliance, new windows/doors; resurface walking trail/ADA compliance; new playground equipment; new surfacing of trail; and parking resurface.

				Improvements at Spangler Park, 6th Street Park and Viking Park including: new engineered wood fiber resurfacing; sidewalk repair/ADA compliance; and new sidewalk added. Restroom renovation at Spangler and 6th Street. A new pavilion and new access sidewalks at Downtown Park.
Jamestown	Fentress	$200,000	$200,000	Renovate the existing pool and add another pool with a zero entry design and splash pad components.
Johnson City	Washington	$200,000	$200,000	Carver Park splash pad and ADA compliance.
Kingsport	Sullivan	$250,000	$250,000	Borden Park: installing new LED lighting on six tennis courts, and ADA compliance. Preston Forest Park: demolition of a playground and parking area, construction of a new lighted parking lot, construction of a perimeter trail, and site amenities, and ADA compliance.
Lakeland	Shelby	$500,000	$500,000	Phase 1 of a Master Planned Sports Complex including a multi-use open turf field, gravel vehicular access road and parking with lighting, ADA- compliant parking stalls, ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk which connects to an ADA-compliant seating area, park maintenance building with a gravel access drive, and landscaping.


Lenoir City	Loudon	$500,000	$500,000	Central Park: age specific splash pads, a pavilion structure with restrooms, parking lot, and ADA compliance.
Lexington	Henderson	$200,000	$200,000	Proposed playground will be located on a site previously used as an inline hockey rink. Site improvements include installing new handicap parking spaces, signage and sidewalk access.
Linden	Perry	$148,434	$148,434	Construct a splash pad and make ADA improvements at Linden City Park. Sidewalks will be installed between the existing walking track and the pavilion for ADA access. The additional ADA upgrade work will consist of installing two handicap accessible parking spaces at the south entrance with signage, installing sidewalk from the south parking to walking trail, replacing sidewalk from the walking trail to pavilion and upgrading the restrooms.
Lobelville	Perry	$79,140	$79,140	ADA improvements and upgrades including new handicap parking spaces with signage, replacing sidewalks and creating ramps, installing a new walking track addition, replacing all ball field

				bleachers with ADA units and concrete pad, resurfacing the playground area, removing non- compliant playground equipment and installing perimeter fencing along the playground.
Madison County	Madison	$500,000	$500,000	Remove and replace two playgrounds with new playground elements including safety surface and play elements that meet IPEMA and ADA requirements. Move existing equestrian center to underutilized park and install lighting. Handicap parking spaces will be installed, along with concrete sidewalks, to provide an accessible route from the designated handicap parking spaces to the arena.
Manchester	Coffee	$336,000	$336,000	One prefab concrete restroom building; LED lighting for the Championship Soccer Field; and renovation of the Fred Deadman Playground for ADA accessibility standards.
Maynardville	Union	$193,287.50	$193,287.50	Development of the first City park including: a splash pad, restroom facility, shade structure, a parking lot, and ADA compliance.
McKenzie	Carroll	$60,000	$60,000	Commercial playground equipment and an engineered wood fiber surface for Mulberry Park and City Park. Outdoor musical play elements, engineered wood fiber surface and landscaping for SplashPark.

Metro Nashville and Davidson County	Davidson	$500,000	$500,000	Development of Aaittafama’ Archaeological Park. Phase I includes construction of a parking lot with ADA accessible parking, ADA accessible walkways and recreational trail, and an events field. These initial developments will include site amenities, necessary site work, as well as native landscaping and signage to establish the land as an archaeological park.
Montgomery County	Montgomery	$500,000	$500,000	Shell building, including decks and detached restrooms, a paved parking lot and site area between.
Mount Pleasant	Maury	$75,000	$75,000	Build a community splash pad, an ADA-compliant restroom and an ADA-compliant walking trail leading from the parking lot to the splash pad.

Paris	Henry	$500,000	$500,000	Existing parking lot will be expanded to 40 spaces, including three handicapped spots with ADA entrance; ADA restroom facility; youth spray zone; two pavilions and a small interactive ground spray feature with lighting; splash pad teen zone and family zone; family area including a tidal tank; shade sails.
Parker’s Crossroads	Henderson	$75,000	$75,000	Play area with compliant surface, new border and multiple play features.
Perry County	Perry	$86,570	$86,570	ADA improvements and upgrades, including installing new handicap parking spaces with signage, removing non-compliant playground equipment, replacing existing sidewalk with new sidewalk and ramps, upgrading the concession/restroom, and replacing and constructing new compliant bleachers.

Pleasant View	Cheatham	$225,245	$225,245	New lighting and extension of the existing parking lot to provide 104 additional parking spaces, four of which are ADA accessible. The parking lot will tie into a walkway system and plaza that will also be constructed and will be 100% ADA accessible.
Putnam County	Putnam	$333,500	$333,500	Removing concrete slab and asphalt to construct a new soccer field. A second soccer/multi use field will be built on an open field, which requires grading and excavation work. A retaining wall will be built to better utilize the property for the new field and additional future recreation area. A 1,220 ft. long road will be constructed, utilizing partial existing infrastructure and entrance from Washington Road.
Selmer	McNairy	$500,000	$500,000	Improving field drainage, improving adjacent drainage infrastructure, install automatic irrigation systems to existing fields, mend or replace fencing and backstops as needed, install new bleachers at each field, renovate the existing dugouts, renovate existing Scorekeeper’s Stands, build a new concession stand with ADA-compliant restrooms and storage for maintenance equipment, and overlay the existing roads and walkways to improve ADA mobility.

Signal Mountain	Hamilton	$400,000	$400,000	Renovations to Marion Field and Driver Field including: surfacing, fencing, stormwater improvements, new bleachers adjacent to Driver Field, and ADA compliance.
Smith County	Smith	$140,000	$140,000	Improvements to Crump Paris Park including demolition and reconstruction of the existing concession and announcer stand; construction of an accessory structure at the Carthage Junction Depot to house restrooms for the new kayak and canoe access; and ground surfacing for the ADA-compliant addition to Kidz Central Park.
Soddy Daisy	Hamilton	$165,000	$165,000	Northend Park Improvements: remove current playground, install new playground equipment and surface that meets all current standards, and ADA compliance.
Springfield	Robertson	$500,000	$500,000	Phase II development improvements at MLK Park. Including: a large playground area to include ADA- complaint features, compliant safety surface material, playground lighting, a covered plaza with shade sail structures for parents and children, two multi-purpose fields with bleachers and an ADA- compliant viewing area, a perimeter trail and landscaping.


Tazewell	Claiborne	$85,000	$85,000	Tazewell Park: renovation improvements consisting of upgrades to the existing ballfield playing surface and the replacement of water fountains; new developments including 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.
Unicoi	Unicoi	$248,000	$248,000	Construct an outdoor amphitheater with a stage, and ADA compliance.
Vonore	Monroe	$500,000	$500,000	Heritage Park Improvements: development of a little league field including fencing, bleachers, dugouts and ADA compliance.
Wartburg	Morgan	$96,000	$96,000	Wartburg City Park renovations including replacing an old playground with a new one, amenities, upgrades to the existing ballfields, parking lot and roadway improvements, walkway improvements, and ADA compliance.

Wartrace	Bedford	$75,000	$75,000	Renovations to the Wartrace gymnasium including: interior painting, exterior repair, bleacher renovation, mold removal/remediation and concession stand, bathrooms, locker room and storage room reconstruction. All improvements to the restrooms will be ADA-compliant.
Waynesboro	Wayne	$112,500	$112,500	Construct pole lighting at the soccer fields in the Waynesboro Sportsplex as well as construct ADA- compliant handicap parking spaces. ADA- improvements will consist of widening the access road/driveway to make two lanes, extending the sidewalk and developing handicap parking spaces.
White Bluff	Dickson	$315,000	$315,000	Phase II of site development at the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center including: acquisition of additional property to add to the recreational acreage of the site, continuation of a walking trail at the site, construction of a restrooms/pavilions facility, and all necessary site work and site amenities.
Whitwell	Marion	$60,500	$60,500	Whitwell City Park ADA compliance improvements: renovations to the existing bathroom at the walking track, construction of a new bathroom located at the horse arena, construction of a new bathroom located at the baseball fields, access paths, and parking.