Parks and Recreational Facilities
Based on NRPA standards, the East City Sector does not meet close-to-home park standards, meaning that more neighborhood and community parks are needed. Particularly, the majority of the sector north of I-40, including the Alice-Bell Spring Hill neighborhood, is not located within a park service area. Portions of the sector along Asheville Highway are also deficient in close-to-home parks.

Because of the aging population, recreation facilities that are enjoyed most by the elderly are also in demand. These include greenways, trails, natural areas and senior centers. The student population is also expected to increase, creating demand for improved athletic fields and school parks. These facilities can be improved and linked with pedestrian and bike paths, creating an interconnected community facilities network.

The City of Knoxville has an ongoing program to replace and maintain playground equipment throughout the city park system. The City of Knoxville also has a park expansion and improvement program, which funds improvements and land acquisition at several major recreation sites throughout the city. In Table 5, an asterisk (*) designates parks which have paved walking trails. Efforts to use greenways and walking trails to connect neighborhoods to parks and activity centers are underway, and a detailed concept to connect these activity areas has been developed by community participation during the planning process. The plan is located on page 29 of this document, in the 5 and 15-Year Community Facility Improvements section.

Holston River Park is the only community park in the sector. Standards suggest 6.25 acres of close-to-home parks per 1,000 population, leaving portions of the sector deficient.

A complete inventory of the existing parks and greenways can be found in the Knoxville Parks, Greenways & Open Space Resource Inventory prepared by the MPC for the Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department.

Planned Programs
The following improvements to recreational property are outlined in the City of Knoxville’s Capitol Improvements Program for 2001-2006. Most are located within the sector; some are adjacent to the sector but will serve East City neighborhoods:

• Chilhowee Park—Funding for construction of a new 107,000 square foot exhibition building on the grounds of Chilhowee Park. The exhibit area will be approximately 80,000 square feet.
• Caswell Park—Funding for design and construction of a new urban park on the Central/East Sector border to offer passive recreational uses for surrounding neighborhoods and athletic uses for regional competitions.
• Youth Golf Course—Funding to support construction of Knoxville First Tee, a 9-hole youth golf course. Includes demolition of several buildings and land acquisition.
• Knoxville Zoo, Phase III—Funding for continuation of a multi-year improvement program. This phase includes renovations to the African Plains and Elephant exhibit, retrofitting the clinic with a radiology room, replacing the mechanical systems, replacing the roof and retrofitting a former commissary to provide staff offices.
• Union Square Park—Funding to redesign and renovate this neighborhood park with suitable amenities.
• Tractor Pull Arena—Funds for this project will construct and equip a new tractor pull arena in Chilhowee Park. The arena will be used for the TVA & I Fair and other city events.
• Coliseum/Auditorium Area—Includes funding for new lighting, heating/cooling system, and sound system.

Schools
Eastport Elementary has closed since the last sector update but according to school officials, no more closures are planned. The school system’s capitol improvements plan includes a new track at Whittle Springs, partial restoration of the auditorium at Holston Middle, new bleachers at Vine, and money for Cleanup/Fix Up at Holston, Richard Yoakley, Chilhowee, and Belle Morris.

Many in the community believe that the planned upgrades are not sufficient, and that schools in the East City Sector need more improvements.

Chilhowee Intermediate School on Asheville Highway serves grades 3-5.

If the community is to remain an attractive place for families with young children, older schools need to be as attractive to students and parents as the newer suburban schools. A strong commitment to strengthening city schools and other community facilities will encourage young families to remain as a part of the East City, reducing sprawl and diminishing the need to build expensive new schools in the county.

Currently, two full service schools (full service includes preschool and community involvement) and three magnet schools are located in the sector. Some schools serving the East City Sector are not located within the sector boundary, but are still included in Table 6.

Libraries

• Burlington Branch Library, 1993
• North Knoxville Branch Library, 1963

Public Safety

• Law Enforcement is provided by Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and Knox County Sheriff’s Department (KCSD)
• Fire Protections—Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) stations 6 and 16 are within the sector, 4 and 11 also serve the sector
• Rural/Metro provides county fire protection and Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Utilities

• The Knoxville Utilities Board coordinates distribution of all utilities
• Water is drawn from Ft. Loudon Reservoir
• Wastewater (sewer) is treated at Love Creek and Kuwahee Treatment Plants
• Gas is purchased from East Tennessee Natural Gas
• Electricity is purchased from TVA

Although it is located just outside the sector, the fire station at Whittle Springs serves East City and adds character to the neighborhood, providing a good example for new development. During public meetings, residents felt that this area was a good location for a town center-style district.

• Pocket Parks 1/4 mile radius, size: less than 2 acres

Boright Park
James Smith Park
*North Hills Park
North Knoxville Park
Union Square Park

• Neighborhood Park 1/4-1/2 mile radius, size: 5-20 acres

*Edgewood Park

• Community Park 2 mile radius, size: 20-50 acres

*Holston River Park

Alice Bell Park/Ball field
Claude Walker Park/Ball field
*Holston-Chilhowee Ball field
Skyline Park

Chilhowee Park/Knoxville Zoo
Whittle Springs Golf Course

Milton Roberts Recreation Center
North Knoxville Recreation Center
Northgate Terrace Center
Richard Leake Recreation Center