Mayor Kincannon and her staff will be available to answer questions about and hear suggestions regarding Chilhowee Park, including Emerald Youth Foundation’s proposal to redevelop a portion of the park, on Sept. 15, 2025 at Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center gymnasium, 3124 Wilson Ave.
 
The meeting initially had been announced for another time and date. But Mayor Kincannon rescheduled the ideas exchange to 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 to make it more readily available to more residents.
 
Emerald Youth Foundation has proposed purchasing through a structured development agreement 13 acres south of Magnolia Avenue for $913,518. Emerald proposes investing approximately $25 million in private funding to build a community complex similar to its Haslam-Sansom Ministry Complex in Lonsdale – a nexus in Burlington of synthetic turf sports fields, basketball courts, community meeting spaces, a pavilion, a learning center, a wellness center and a performance training / fitness space. The agreement requires that Emerald maintain those uses on the site for 20 years.
 
The City this week also will be publishing a webpage with comprehensive and consolidated details about the project, and the page will continue to be updated as more questions arise. Coming soon, visit www.KnoxvilleTN.gov/ChilhoweeParkProposal to access answers to questions that have been asked at community meetings and on social media about Chilhowee Park and the Emerald Youth Foundation proposal.
 
The 2019 Chilhowee Park Strategic Plan, park maps, the City’s Request for Proposals, Emerald’s submitted proposal, property appraisals, the Tennessee Valley Fair lease agreement, and other documents can be found on this webpage.
 
City staff at the Sept. 15 public meeting also will be available to discuss how the 2019 Chilhowee Park visioning study is being used to guide the addition of future new amenities at the park.
 
Parks and Recreation staff will be engaging with residents on recent and planned City investments in East Knoxville parks and hearing feedback from residents on what other amenities and programs they’d like.
 

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