board view alderman
I recently asked one of my sons what he liked about Farragut. His response was: “It seems like people move here and they never leave. I like all the restaurants and new developments that have moved in, and I love our parks, especially the plans for the new McFee Park.
“I can’t wait to try TopGolf, and I love that we do so many community events like the Lawn Chair Concert series, the Fourth of July parade and the events that have great food.”
My son’s assessment of the town from a 20,000-foot view was spot on. There is so much happening in our town it’s hard to pin down exactly what makes Farragut such a special place. If I were to boil it down to one word, I would say community. Community is not something you see, it’s something you feel.
It’s caring for your neighbor; it’s enjoying a dinner on the patio of a restaurant or on your neighbor’s back deck; it’s knowing that the people in the town not only care about the businesses, neighborhoods and parks, but they also care about you! And that is why trying to describe the allure of Farragut is so difficult – it’s something you need to experience for yourself.
I was recently asked, “What are you working on for the town and what are you hoping to contribute?” That is a great question and one I will have to narrow down to the top initiatives that I am working on and am passionate about.
One of my favorite projects is the McFee Park expansion. The proposed plans have been approved in the new budget. Once completed, this park will offer something for people of all ages and become one of this town’s greatest attractions.
There will be a great lawn with five acres of green space for picnics, throwing Frisbee and relaxing with friends and family; four tennis courts with lines for pickle ball; a full-court basketball area with a tennis hitting wall; a walkway that connects to existing McFee Park features; and another very large pavilion. With all these amazing amenities, there will still be expansion opportunities on the undeveloped land for things like a dog park, Frisbee golf and more walking trails. I am so excited to see this come to fruition in the coming months.
Another initiative I am passionate about is the addition of an all-inclusive playground. People with disabilities have always been near and dear to my heart. Growing up, I got to spend a lot of time with my church’s Sonshine ministry. Through these experiences, I got to know so many amazing kids and adults that I saw not as having disabilities, but as having amazing abilities!
Through this ministry, my love grew for special needs individuals, which ultimately led me to getting a degree in special education. Having experience and knowledge in this area has fueled my passion to get our town to explore the option of building an all-inclusive playground that accommodates kids with special needs and allows all kids to play together – a playground that caters to someone in a wheelchair as well as an energetic kid wanting to jump from the monkey bars to the next platform. It’s important to me that this type of playground be accessible by ALL kids.
The hottest topic on everyone’s mind right now is the new entertainment district being created on Outlet Drive. The proposed plans for TopGolf and other entertainment uses could result in one of the most exciting additions to the Town of Farragut in a long time.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the Municipal Planning Commission and Town staff are all working diligently on making it a reality. I am thrilled to be a part of these exciting growth opportunities for our town.
I knew I wanted to serve our community, but I never expected it would so quickly develop into a growing love for the position of alderman. Thank you for allowing me to help play a part in growing our wonderful town.
