Fun with Farragut's Fleet
Town hosts 19th Annual event
Families turned out en mass Saturday, Aug. 14, in Mayor Bob Leonard Park, where Town staff hosted the 19th Annual Fun with Farragut’s Fleet.
Warm temperatures didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for hundreds of children —and adults — who enjoyed seeing Town and county vehicles up close and in person, from a Rural Metro fire truck to Smyrna Ready-Mix discharge mixer; Waste Connections of Tennessee garbage collection truck; Knox County Sheriff patrol cars/motorcycles/bomb squad; Farragut Public Works bucket truck, backhoe, right of way mower, skid steer loader, gator, tractor and dump truck with plow; and First Utility District’s TV van and vac truck.
Snacks were provided by Farragut Parks & Rec. Children’s ID kits were supplied by His Security & Technology.
“This is the 19th annual event but the first one was more than 19 years ago … in 1998 at Farragut Town Hall,” explained Town Parks and Rec director Sue Stuhl.
She said “other communities had success with a ‘Touch a Truck’ program — allowing kids to have hands-on experience — so then program coordinator (Anne LaGrow) put this special event together.
“It started really small, with a few vehicles from public works and a fire engine, and has grown since then.”
Stuhl said expansion necessitated the program’s move to Mayor Bob Leonard Park in 2014, noting, “we needed more space for the participants and for the vehicles.
“While we know that the kids love this event, I have often thought that the dads and granddads have as much or more fun,” she added.