Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Corridor
Communities throughout the country are discovering that the character-defining assets of their lands – historic, cultural, environmental and recreational – can be incredible economic drivers for their cities and towns. They have learned that parks and open space, recreational amenities, and historic sites, when integrated as part of our growth and redevelopment plans, help attract and retain good people and good business to the city, improve overall health and quality of life, and help create wholly livable communities.
The 1,000-acre Knoxville Urban Wilderness Corridor along Knoxville’s downtown waterfront contains ten parks, nearly twenty miles of recreational trails, three civil war forts, historic settlement sites, and diverse ecological features and recreational amenities. The corridor links the existing assets and the future acquired properties into an incredible historical, recreational, cultural and environmental experience.
Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Corridor Map (PDF) »
In addition to neighborhoods, the proposed Corridor will include:
Ijams Nature Center
A 300-acre wildlife sanctuary and environmental learning center providing community-wide education, conservation, and recreational experiences. The recently added Ross Marble Quarry and Meads Quarry feature nearly ten miles of trails and breath-taking natural features.
The Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area
500 acres nestled on the south shore of the Tennessee River comprised of open fields and forest.
The River Bluff
A 70-acre tract originally slated for condominium development that recently purchased by Legacy Parks Foundation. This property is significant as the most expansive view of greenspace and the ridgetop from the city side of the river. It contains two ponds, an abundance of wildflower and mature hardwoods, and the most breathtaking view of Knoxville. It is the site of the Battle of Armsrtongs Hill, a key Civil War battle in the defense of Knoxville.
Loghaven and Fort Higley
Lush, 95-acre tract rich with historical significance and an abundance of mature hardwoods and native species recently purchased by the Aslan Foundation to preserve the natural and historical integrity of the land.
Island Home Park
A family-oriented city park and the trailhead for the Will Skelton Greenway that extends into Forks of the River Wildlife Area.
William Hastie Natural Area
A densely wooded urban park with over four miles of natural trail.
Fort Dickerson Park
An 85-acre scenic city park, said to be the best preserved of all earthworks forts dating from the Civil War days.
Working in collaboration with the City of Knoxville and Knox County, Legacy Parks Foundation will continue to assemble the lands, funds and partners to create the Corridor. To contribute to the effort contact cevans@legacyparks.org or online (via paypal) ».
Partners on the Urban Wilderness Corridor include Tennessee Department of Tourism, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee, Knox County, City of Knoxville, Knox Heritage, Foothills Land Conservancy, The Civil War Alliance, The Civil War Roundtable, The East Tennessee Community Design Center, the McClung Museum and the Center for Excellence for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University.
Quarry Trail Map (PDF) »
City Greenway Map (PDF) »
Harrell Road Stormwater Park
Knox County’s first Stormwater Park will be built in the Karns community through a partnership of Legacy Parks Foundation, the Beaver Creek Task Force, Knox County Stormwater Department, the University of Tennessee’s Tennessee Water Resources Research Center, and the East Tennessee Community Design Center. The new park on vacant property along Beaver Creek on Harrell Road will be a model for stormwater management practices such as rain gardens, wetland ponds and riparian buffers. The project will transform land donated to Legacy Parks Foundation by developer Scott Davis from an illegal dump site to a refuge-style nature park with wetland ponds, abundant native plants, flowers, and trees and a natural surface walking trail around the perimeter of the eleven acres. Funding for the project will come from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture 319 Program and dollars raised by Legacy Parks Foundation (via paypal) ». Once created, the park land will be conveyed to Knox County as a new addition to the parks system.
Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge
Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge, a 360-acre wildlife sanctuary on the edge of east Knox County, is poised to be one of the southeast's most treasured natural and historic parks.
Seven Islands is a rich natural habitat with over 150 species of birds found in the refuge, including a pair of nesting bald eagles. The French Broad River, which borders the park, holds over 50 species of fish – more varieties than found on the entire European continent. Hiking trails wind up the ridges and down to the waterfront. A boat launch allows easy access to the river. It is a site to be treasured and studied.
Thirteen research projects are currently underway at Seven Islands. The properties’ rich history nearly equals its natural assets. The six historic structures on the property tell the story of the settlement of our region. Evidence of early industry still remains on the river’s edge and throughout the property are reminders of our origins as a community. Given its historic and natural significance, a second phase of planning is underway to make Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge a signature educational, recreational and research haven of national stature.
Land Conservation
Working in collaboration with Foothills Land Conservancy, Legacy Parks Foundation has helped permanently protect nearly 1,000 acres of forest and farmland in East Tennessee. The 500-acre Bluff Mountain in Sevier County, farms in Blount and Knox County, two future park sites and a historic spot along Beaver Creek will forever remain in their current natural condition through the establishment of conservation easements on the properties.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. It allows the property owner to continue to own and use their land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. Foothills Land Conservancy's and Legacy Parks Foundation's role is to assure that the terms of the easement are followed on a long-term basis. For more information about conservation easements contact cevans@legacyparks.org.
The Highland Drive Neighborhood Association's primary goal is to protect and maintain this parcel as a public access green-space. The city, the community of Fountain City, the residents of Highland Drive and of adjacent streets will all benefit from preserving this natural green space in a heavily urban area. The property, when kept in its natural state, can offer a quiet place with live springs, ancient trees, native vegetation, and wildlife habitat.
Trails
Trails are a natural amenity for east Tennessee. Our ridges and valley, lush forests and abundant waterways can easily be explored, appreciated, and protected on simple, multi-use trails. Legacy Parks Foundation is working to establish a recreational trails throughout Knox County, including a fifteen-mile equestrian trail in east Knox County.
We are grateful to Jack Rose, Jim McCormick and Kenneth Ross for sharing their beautiful photography with all of us.