City and county officials, donors and supporters will join Legacy Parks Foundation in a 2 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony on August 14 of the 15-mile South Loop within Knoxville's Urban Wilderness that connects Ijams Nature Center, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, William Hastie Natural Area and Marie Myers Park.

The ceremony will take place on View Park Drive off East Red Bud Road, between Sevierville Pike and Chapman Highway in South Knoxville. Directions to the Event: From the Henley Street Bridge, travel 2.6 miles south on Chapman Highway. Turn left onto East Redbud Road. Take the 3rd right onto Panorama Drive SE. Turn right onto View Park Drive and look for the crowd!

In addition to the main loop, the complete trail system features an additional 17 miles of trail that spur from the main loop. Kiosks and trail signs will be installed to assist bikers, hikers and runners.

Legacy Parks Foundation raised the majority of the money to acquire eight properties from three key donors, Former Knoxville Mayor and Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe; the Knoxville Greenways Coalition; and the Knoxville Track Club.

The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club designed and built the trails.

The South Loop is part of the Urban Wilderness project - 1,000-acres of urban forest that when completed will connect an existing nature education center, three civil war forts, a state wildlife management area, and ten city parks.