The City of Knoxville and the Rotary Club of West Knoxville will hold a ribbon cutting for a new pavilion, volleyball court, and horseshoe court in West Hills Park, located at Winston Road, on Tuesday, June 14, at 11 a.m.
The Rotary Club of West Knoxville contributed $15,000 to the project after Steve Chancey, one of their members, had the idea to put a new pavilion in the park.
"We wanted to give something tangible, to help provide some shade near the playground," said Chancey. "We felt like the pavilion was something that everyone that visits the park could get use out of."
The club approached Joe Walsh, Director of Knoxville Parks and Recreation about the project in January 2011, and the City agreed to give a $2,500 match through its grants and benevolence fund.
After everyone was on board with location and logistics, Chancey said, "We just got it done."
The new pavilion, volleyball court, and horseshoe court are located on the west end of West Hills Park, adjacent to the park's primary playground structure.
"We're grateful to the Rotary Club of West Knoxville for its generous donation, and hope other organizations will follow their footsteps in making such a community-wide difference," said Walsh. "Pavilions are amenities that tend to increase the quality and atmosphere of a park. From a bigger perspective, they get families outside and encourage a more sociable community."
Chancey listed the Interfaith Health Clinic and the Love Kitchen as other local organizations to which the Rotary Club has made contributions.
In addition to the recently constructed amenities, West Hills Park is 14 acres with nearly two miles of paved trails, 14 tennis courts, two outdoor basketball courts, four ballfields, two playgrounds, and several areas of open space.