Johnson City Parks and Recreation
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
Special points of interest: ~Milestones Celebrated ~ Administration Highlights ~ Athletic Division Highlights ~ Park Services Division Highlights ~ Recreation Services Highlights - Kudos Corner ~ Calendar of Events
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Milestones Celebrated! Tannery Knobs Mountain Bike Park formally opened on June 14 when hundreds attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and watched as a smiling Johnson City Mayor Jenny Brock led dozens of riders down one of the park’s seven trails. City and county officials, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members and others who served on a task force to see the project through were on hand to celebrate. The park’s very popular asphalt pump track atop the downtown mountain was packed with riders throughout the afternoon, and a mix of young and old hit the color-coded trails based on the easiest to most challenging ventures. On May 31, a state historical marker was unveiled at the Keebler-Keefauver home, marking the home’s significance and serving as a reason for a joyful family reunion for Keefauver descendants. The house was built by Joseph Keebler in the late 1850s. The Keefauvers bought the home and roughly 54-acre dairy farm in 1950. Billy Joe and Jean Keefauver moved into the home and began operating the farm in 1964. Their four daughters were on hand for the ceremony. The city purchased Keefauver in 2009. Several years ago, the National Park Service approved the pastoral property as a replacement for Optimist Park, and recreational and other uses were considered. The 2 acres, which essentially is the original farm house and some out buildings, is not considered part of the conversion property. The Parks and Recreation Department maintains the property, and city commissioners will ultimately determine its use.
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Administration Highlights ~ Lakeside Concert Series Winged Deer Park
The Langston Centre - Completed second interview with Adam Dickson was selected as Centre Supervisor and will begin work on July 23. Orders for additional site furnishing will be completed after July 1.
Carver Splash Pad - A late June visit is planned to Athens, Tennessee to review the construction and operations of their splash pad in advance of developing a bid for Carver.
June 27 Hillbilly Bad July 11 Model City Wrecking Crew
Athletics Division Highlights ~
Tennis lessons are underway at the Pete Zannis Tennis Complex at Liberty Bell with 65 participating.
Youth softball finished their regular season. Two divisions are still playing their end -of season tournament due to rain. Registration for adult softball began June 24.
August 1 Sound Travelers
Youth soccer registration begins July 8. Practice will start in August and games will begin the first week of September.
August 8 Barefoot Movement
Adult volleyball is returning to JC Parks this fall, with divisions for open, co-ed, church and women. Registration opens July 1 with games beginning in September.
July 18 The Bosses July 25 Jae Marie Project
August 15 Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra
Park Services Division Highlights ~
Tannery Knobs - Weeded common areas, installed parking lot blocks, bollards, guard station, park signage. Public Works stripped parking lot. Port-o-lets were delivered and additional stone was added to parking lot and pump track area. Formal ribbon cutting was held on Friday, June 14.
Paul Christman - The second park in a series of park improvements. Improvements included resurfacing and striping the basketball court, painting the goal posts and backboards, installation of a new playground border, painting the pavilion and general landscaping. The improvements should be completed by July 15.
Golf Division Highlights ~
Bryan Bentley began employment as Golf Manager on Monday, June 10.
Greens Roller purchased, delivered and is in use.
A Walk in the Park Your Parks and Recreation Connection
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Recreation Services Division ~
Memorial Park Community Center - A new concert series has been established by the Marketing Office. Open gym attendance is staying steady with 30-40 participants a day. The summer feeding program through Second Harvest is averaging 12 youth a day.
Summer Camp - The summer camp program is in full swing with approximately 80 youth in JC Jump Start and Carver Recreation Camp. Jump Start Mini has 15 preschool youth enrolled. Nature camps are averaging 28 kids enjoying the outdoors. All campers are enjoying a variety of field trips and special speakers, lunch and breakfast which is being providing by the school system.
Aquatics - Hosted Mountain Games on June 8 with 70 in attendance. The event included kayaks, paddleboards, disc golf, corn hole, mountain biking and food.
Senior Services - The Johnson City Senior Center hosted their first Aging Well Conference on May 30, 2019, with 77 registered participants and 26 registered vendors. Keynote speaker, Dr. Terry Eckmann from Minot State University, presented an interactive talk about our Healthy Aging Survival Kit. Participants then had the opportunity to attend three different breakout sessions on various topics of aging well. During lunch, Dr. Eckmann presented 7 Key Lifestyle Choices for Living Well Throughout the Lifespan. A participant’s response: “I just had to let you know how blessed I was yesterday considering the amount of information we seniors were given, the professional way it was all handled, the generous and delicious luncheon we enjoyed, the experts who brought each of the breakout sessions. I was overwhelmed. And even though I was exhausted and feeling poorly by the time I got home, I couldn't believe how much I had benefited from that long day of learning and sharing. Thank you!!!!”
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Senior Services Manager Deb Fogle gets a tip of the hat this month for her 4137 Bristol Hwy. success and continued efforts to draw Johnson City, TN 37601 sponsors for the 2nd Annual Pickleball Phone: 423-283-5815 Tournament. Thanks to her 4137 Bristol Highway Fax: 423-283-5829 Johnson City, Tennessee 37601communications with Watauga Email: Orthopedics, the group has agreed to Phone: 423-283-5815 jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn.org pay for more than 150, four-colorFax: 423-283-5829 Website: design tournament T-shirts, which is a www.johnsoncitytn.org considerable chunk of the event cost. She also is talking Like us on Facebook with a well-known local entity in hopes of securing the @jcparkstn Big Dill Sponsorship ($1,000) for our tournament on Follow us on Twitter and Oct. 25-26. Great work, Deb! Instagram @jcparkstn
Upcoming Events July 1 - Adult Volleyball League registration opens
July 16 - Memorial Park Community Center - Bert Street Music Series - Tennessee Champagne
July 1 - Pete Zannis Tennis Center at Liberty Bell - Youth and adult tennis lessons begin
July 17-21 - Winged Deer Park - Future Stars of Sports Fast Pitch World Series
July 4 - Freedom Hall Civic Center - Pepsi Fireworks
July 18 - Winged Deer Park—Lakeside Concert - The Bosses
July 4 - Legion Street Pool - July 4 Pool Party
July 22 - Adult fall softball practice begins
July 5-7 - Winged Deer Park - USA Grand Slam Classic
July 22 - Girls softball registration begins
July 8-12 - Meredith Pavilion - Survival Challenge Camp
July 22-26 - Memorial Park Community Center - Mix it Up Sports Camp
July 8-12 - Memorial Park Community Center - Bike Camp
July 23 - Memorial Park Community Center - Bert Street Music Series - Southern Rebellion
July 9 - Memorial Park Community Center - Bert Street Music Series - Beach Nite Band
July 24-28 - Winged Deer Park - USA Softball 10 Under Nationals
July 11 - Winged Deer Park - Lakeside Concert—Model City Wrecking Crew
July 25 - Winged Deer Park - Lakeside Concert - Jae Marie Project
July 12-14 - Winged Deer Park - Tom Williams Tri-Cities Classic
July 30 - Memorial Park Community Center - Bert Street Music Series - The Billy Crawford Band
July 15-19 - Meredith Pavilion - Teen Adventure Camp