Urban Wilderness Challenge set for March

Outdoor enthusiasts will have a chance to explore some of Knoxville's parks, greenways, wilderness and special places that comprise a part of the Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor. The Urban Wilderness Challenge will provide three unique activities for adventurers of all levels to play in the recreational, historic and natural assets found along Knoxville's south waterfront. The event benefits Legacy Parks Foundation and is sponsored by River Sports, Patagonia, Knoxville Volunteer Rotary, Knoxvillager.com, Barley's, Dewhirst Properties and Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. The Challenge on March 20th includes:

The Adventure Race combines biking, rappelling, hiking, running, orienteering and a few surprises along the way in a rigorous 4-hour team competition. Race participants will meet at Fort Dickerson Park on Chapman Highway and be shuttled to an undisclosed starting point. Teams of three will be given a topographic map with identified checkpoints. Their challenge is to navigate to each checkpoint on bike, complete the required activity and get to the finish at Fort Dickerson Park. Racers must rely on their navigation skills – no cell phones, GPS, or other devices are allowed – and teamwork. The race starts at 9 a.m. Racers will check in Friday, March 19th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at River Sports and drop their bikes. Teams can register online at www.active.com or using the entry form. The team registration fee is $150.

Guided Hikes, on trails never traveled by the public, will be conducted in Fort Dickerson Park and Ross Marble Quarry at Ijams Nature. Hikers will get both a unique view and the unique history of the parks. The hikes are free and open to casual hikers of all ages. The Ross Marble Quarry hike at Ijams Nature Center begins at 11 a.m. Meet in the Meads Quarry parking lot just east of the Ijams entrance on Island Home Avenue. The Fort Dickerson Park hike begins at 1 p.m. at the Civil War fort at the top of the park off Chapman Highway. Both hikes will last approximately 1.5 hours.

Canoe in the spectacular Quarry Lake at Fort Dickerson from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Chota Canoe Club will provide boats and equipment for paddlers 12 years old and older. This is a special one-time opportunity as the Quarry is not currently open for public access.

Fort Dickerson Park on Chapman Highway and Ross Quarry off Island Home Avenue are key links in the Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor being promoted by Legacy Parks Foundation. The Corridor is a $6 million initiative to create a 1,000 acre Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor paralleling the South Knoxville Waterfront Development in the heart of Knoxville. When fully realized, the Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor will contain three civil war forts, historic settlement sites, ten city parks, diverse ecological features and recreational amenities and will be connected by a system of greenways and natural trails.

Greenway Coalition $10,000 Gift Boosts River Bluff Effort

The Knox Greenways Coalition's pledge of $10,000 over five years to the Legacy Parks Foundation brings to $100,000 the balance needed to meet the $1.5 purchase price for the River Bluff Wildlife Area.

The property, which was originally slated for condominium development as the third phase of the Woodlands development on Cherokee Trail, is a 70-acre parcel that will protect what the Legacy Parks Foundation calls "the most significant green space and bluff across the river from downtown Knoxville."

Formed in 1991, the Knox Greenways Coalition is an organization that advocates to improve the quality of life in Knoxville and Knox County through the development of greenways. The Coalition is open to all citizens interested in advocating for greenways.

Legacy Parks Foundation purchased the 70-acre River Bluff property on Knoxville's south waterfront two days before the Dec 31st deadline, assuring that one of Knoxville's most spectacular views and ridges is forever preserved as an urban forest. The property, most know as the rocky bluff visible from downtown Knoxville, will be conveyed to City of Knoxville for a use as a park once the remaining funds are raised.

"We have been amazed that during this tough economy we've been able to raise over $1.4 million from public investment and private donors at all levels and from throughout the region. We have faith that we can raise the remaining $100,000 and then give the city a beautiful park for all of the community to enjoy," Tommy Schumpert, board chair said.

The 70-acre River Bluff Wilderness Area is the key link in the Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor project that envisions a 1,000 acre greenspace paralleling the South Knoxville Waterfront Development in the heart of Knoxville. It will contain three civil war forts, several historic settlement sites, and diverse ecological features and recreational amenities. This Corridor will preserve the greenspace that frames our downtown, protect our ridges and views, provide new recreational opportunities with a city park and system of trails and greenways, protect important historic assets, and enhance the South Waterfront development. The Corridor takes advantage of our existing natural, cultural and historic assets and could include:

1. Ijams Nature Center and the TWRA Wildlife Management Area anchoring the east end with a combined 800 acres.
2. River Bluff Wildlife Area, a 70 acre tract originally slated for condominium development that has recently returned to the market. This property is significant as the most expansive view of greenspace and the ridgetop from the city side of the river. Development of this parcel would forever change the character of downtown Knoxville and the south waterfront.
3. The Log Haven Conservation Area, a 95-acre tract recently purchased by the Aslan Foundation. This property contains the majority of Fort Higley, a Civil War battle site, additional historical significance and artifacts, an abundance of mature hardwoods and native species, and five log cabins.
4. Fort Higley, a seven-acre parcel adjacent to the Log Haven property where a critical portion of the fort is located.
5. Fort Dickerson Park, an existing city park and historic site, easily linked to Fort Stanley and Fort Higley to create the opportunity to travel among the sites for an exceptional historic experience.
6. Ten additional city parks including Mary Myers Park, William Hastie Natural Area, Mary Vestal Park and Stanley Lippencott Ridge Park.

The opportunity to create the Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor became possible with the purchase of the 95-acre tract Log Haven property by the Aslan Foundation. This parcel can anchor the west end of the Corridor and will be included if the other properties are assembled.

Long-term management of the Corridor has yet to be determined, but those involved in the project envision a collaboration of several interested organizations. "There are great management models in Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville Zoo, and Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge, in which the city or county own the property and work with organizations for programming and management," Carol Evans, Legacy Parks Foundation Executive Director explained. "Our initial focus is to assemble and preserve the key properties and then help develop the plan for long-term stewardship."

You may contribute to the Urban Corridor initiative online or by contact Carol Evans at 865.525.2585 or cevans@legacyparks.org

New Film Documents Effort to Save Ridges, Forts

The ridges of south Knoxville provide a lush, green backdrop that frames downtown Knoxville. It is rich with mature hardwood trees, wildflowers, raccoons, wild turkeys, deer, and other species rare to a city's center. 150 years ago the ridges bore no resemblance to the urban forest today. Bare hillsides served as the fortress against the Confederate attack on Knoxville during the Civil War. Award-winning producer Steve Dean uncovers untold stories of the people and places of the war and its impact in shaping what the city became today in "Holding the High Ground" to air on WBIR-TV 10 March 27th at 8:30 p.m.

A related presentation, "Knoxville's Civilian War: The Face of Conflict 1861-18", by Dr. Joan Markel, Civil War Curator at the Frank H. McClung Museum, will explore the diverse personalities who populated Knoxville at that time, examining how the events of 1861-1865 impacted their lives. The presentation brings together photographs, letters, diaries, and several important books by those who lived through the conflict to provide a rare view of a community in conflict. It will be Sunday, February 21 at 2 p.m. at Frank H. McClung Museum Auditorium and is free to the public.

The documentary and presentation are designed to spur interest and contributions to Legacy Parks Foundation's efforts to purchase and preserve Fort Stanley, the only unprotected Civil War fort in the string of three along the ridge. The Foundation must raise $800,000 by December 2010 to save the fort.

Fort Stanley is a key link in the $6 million initiative to create a 1,000 acre Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor paralleling the South Knoxville Waterfront Development in the heart of Knoxville. It will contain three civil war forts, historic settlement sites, and diverse ecological features and recreational amenities and be connected by a system of greenways and natural trails. The Knoxville Urban Wilderness and Historic Corridor would be comprised of:

1. Ijams Nature Center and the TWRA Wildlife Management Area anchoring the east end with a combined 800 acres.
2. River Bluff Wildlife Area, a 70 acre tract originally slated for condominium development that has recently returned to the market. This property is significant as the most expansive view of greenspace and the ridgetop from the city side of the river. Development of this parcel would forever change the character of downtown Knoxville and the south waterfront.
3. The Log Haven Conservation Area, a 95-acre tract recently purchased by the Aslan Foundation. This property contains the majority of Fort Higley, a Civil War battle site, additional historical significance and artifacts, an abundance of mature hardwoods and native species, and five log cabins.
4. Fort Higley, a seven-acre parcel adjacent to the Log Haven property where a critical portion of the fort is located.
5. Fort Dickerson Park, an existing city park and historic site, easily linked to Fort Stanley and Fort Higley to create the opportunity to travel among the sites for an exceptional historic experience.

The Corridor could include ten additional city parks including Mary Myers Park, William Hastie Natural Area, Mary Vestal Park and Stanley Lippencott Ridge Park.

You may contribute to the Urban Corridor initiative online or by contact Carol Evans at 865.525.2585 or cevans@legacyparks.org

Greenway Ranger to Help Improve Waterfront Experience

Legacy Parks Foundation teams up with the City of Knoxville, Knoxville Track Club and Knoxville's Central Business Improvement District to beautify and improve the overall experience along Knoxville's Waterfront Greenway. With funding from Legacy Parks Foundation and the CBID, the city has hired a part-time Americorp staffer for a 10-month term as Greenway Ranger. The Knoxville Track Club, through proceeds from the Knoxville Marathon, purchased a trail vehicle for the ranger to use while patrolling the greenway from Ned McWhorter Park to the Earthfare in Bearden. The ranger's duties include providing advice and directions to visitors, making landscape improvements, clearing the pathway of fallen limbs and debris, and working with businesses and groups to adopt segments of the greenway for beatification. This is a pilot program that could lead to additional rangers throughout the city and county greenways.