Donation helps Historic Red Mill be a part of Town
Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to accept the gift of the 6.43-acre parcel, 623 Concord Road, at its Thursday, Aug. 13 meeting.
“Because the Town of Farragut cannot accept such gifts directly, Legacy Parks Foundation accepted the donation and is in the process of quitclaiming the property to the Town,” according to a Town press release.
“Legacy Parks — which works throughout Knox County on similar ventures — waived the 1 percent administrative fee for the transaction as part of an agreement that they would facilitate future donations to the Town.”
Restrictions on the gift require that the property be used as a passive park and/or open space, the press release continued. Possible future improvements include a greenway trail, interpretive signage and a trailhead with a small parking lot.
“Our Town attorney, Tom Hale, has been working very closely with Legacy Parks and the property owners to get this transaction completed,” said Town administrator David Smoak during the meeting. “The donor approached us several months ago and brought to us the idea to purchase and donate it to the Town.
“It contains the Red Mill Dam, which has been there probably about 100 years now and is part of the old quarry from this area. It has been on private property for a number of years, and a lot of people don’t even know it’s there,” Smoak added. “(The donor) wanted to preserve that, to allow the Town to be able to put some trails in so public could see this view and enjoy this as a part of Farragut’s history.
“There are some restrictions. We can’t build ball fields, but we can build trials, trail heads, maybe learning centers — those are the types of things we will be allowed to do, or if we need utilities, or the road needs to expand, those things would be allowed.”
Smoak said the property abuts land owned by First Utility District, and it connects to a very small portion of current Town property along Concord Road.
A map of the property from KGIS was presented, as was a survey drawing, with Smoak hand-drawing the approximate location of the dam.
Hale described the land as “rugged,” and Smoak confirmed there are no current trails to the property.
“This is a great thing for the Town, and we appreciate Legacy Parks being involved,” Farragut Mayor Ron Williams said. “It’s a beautiful area.
“It’s also another piece of the history of our Town, to go along with the Campbell Station Inn, and it’s a great deal.”
