guest view: Vice Mayor Ron Pinchok
Farragut’s four parks are important to the Town because they provide beautiful, healthy places to play--not just for our residents, but for the larger community, as well.
The athletic fields at Mayor Bob Leonard Park, located at 301 Watt Road, attract visitors from across the region for tournament play. With four lighted diamond fields, three lighted multi-use fields, two lighted synthetic turf fields and a sand volleyball complex, it’s no wonder that parking lots are often filled to capacity during the spring and fall playing seasons.
The upcoming renovation to Mayor Bob Leonard Park will provide a better reception for these visitors and a better playing experience for local residents. The $1.2 million project, funded in part by a $500,000 grant from the Local Parks and Recre-ation Fund (LPRF) administered by the Recre-ation.
Educa-tional Services Division, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conser-vation, is expected to begin in late spring and be completed in the fall. There are three parts to this renovation:
•An expanded and renovated upper restroom will be appreciated by all park visitors. An attractive building with wood beams and stone accents will feature separate changing rooms and additional ADA-compliant toilets.
• Parking will be enhanced with an additional 40 parking spaces in the southern lot off of Watt Road and a grass overflow lot that can accommodate approximately 30 vehicles.
• A third field will be converted to synthetic turf, providing even more space for play in all seasons and in all kinds of weather.
Growth generally requires some pain, so park users will need to exercise patience during construction. The playground will remain open during the project, but there may be temporary closures. Some parking spaces will be lost during construction, and the upper restrooms will be closed for the duration of the project. Temporary toilets will be available at the playground.
Unaffected athletic fields will stay open. Park users are encouraged to park in the west lot off Harrison Lane, which can be accessed from Kingston Pike at Dixie Lee Junction, or via Harrison Road, located off Watt Road just north of the park.
Mayor Bob Leonard Park is already a jewel with 50 acres of athletic fields, walking trails, a wetland observation deck, picnic facilities and a beautiful lighted playground. These upgrades will ensure that this well-used park reflects the high standards of our community and the importance we place on active, healthy living.
The Town of Farragut: Live Closer. Go Further.
