The City of Knoxville will be hosting a first-of-its-kind series of “Neighborhoods to Nature” walks, designed to encourage citizens to discover nearby parks and greenways while also promoting physical activity.

The first such walk will be held Monday evening, July 11, with residents from Parkridge, Fourth and Gill, Old North Knoxville and Austin Homes starting on their walks at 6 p.m. and convening at the Ashley Nicole Dream Playground near Caswell Park by 6:30 p.m. Residents who do not live in the participating neighborhoods will have the opportunity to participate by riding a Knoxville Area Transit vehicle from KAT’s Knoxville Station, 301 E Church Ave.

Mayor Madeline Rogero, members of City Council and other City officials will accompany residents on the walks.

“It’s quick and convenient to get from just about any community to a park or greenway,” Mayor Rogero said. “I hope that many of our citizens will join me for Monday’s planned group walk. It’s a chance to get to know your neighbors a little better while enjoying a summertime walk.” 


Each group of neighbors will be accompanied by a police officer and by an elected official or City staff:


PARKRIDGE WALK

Mayor Rogero will be walking this route.

• Begin at the Parkridge Community Garden at Olive St. and N. Fifth Ave.
• Head north on Olive St.
• Turn left onto Woodbine Ave. (0.5 mi)
• Cross and turn left onto Winona St. (0.1 mi) 
• Caswell Park and Ashley Nicole Dream Playground will be on the right


OLD NORTH KNOXVILLE WALK

Vice Mayor Duane Grieve and Council members Mark Campen and Marshall Stair will be walking this route.

• Start at Fourth United Presbyterian Church, 1323 N. Broadway.
• Cross Broadway and enter Glenwood Ave.
• Turn right onto N 6th Ave. (295 ft.)
• Turn left onto Washington Ave. (0.1 mi)
• Turn right onto Mitchell St. (0.1mi)
• Mitchell St. will lead to Caswell Park Greenway and Ashley Nicole Dream Playground


HISTORIC FOURTH AND GILL WALK

Deputy to the Mayor Christi Branscom and Councilman Finbarr Saunders will be walking this route.

• Begin at the Fourth and Gill Park located at 808 Eleanor St. 

• Exit Fourth and Gill Park onto Gill Ave.
• Head east on Gill Ave. toward Hall of Fame Dr. (0.2 mi)
• Cross and then turn left onto Hall of Fame Dr. (0.1 mi)
• Turn right onto N. 6th Ave. (0.3 mi)
• Turn right onto Washington Ave. (0.1 mi)
• Turn right onto Mitchell St. (0.1mi)
• Mitchell St. will lead to Caswell Park Greenway and Ashley Nicole Playground


AUSTIN HOMES WALK

City Council members Daniel Brown and George Wallace will be walking this route.

• Begin at the bus stop located at W. New St. and S. Bell St.
• Head north on S. Bell St. toward E. New St (138 ft.)
• Turn right onto E. New St. (0.1 mi)
• Turn left onto Harriet Tubman St. (0.2 mi)
• At McCalla Ave., Harriet Tubman becomes Winona St.; continue onto Winona St. (0.4 mi)
• Caswell Park and Ashley Nicole Dream Playground will be on the left


KAT ROUTE

• Begin at Knoxville Station, 301 Church Ave.
• Remember to bring bus fare
• A KAT representative go on this trip and be walking with the group
• Board Route 31 Magnolia Ave. at 6:15 p.m.
• Get off at bus stop at the intersection of Winona Ave. then walk to Caswell Park (.5 mi)
• For more information call KAT at 865-637-3000


In addition, booths and food trucks will be set up on the festival lawn closest to the Ashley Nicole Playground after the walk. Groups will be escorted back to meeting points by a police officer; however, everyone is welcome to walk back on their own at their leisure.

The week of July 11 is full of pedestrian- and transit-oriented activities. Knoxville Area Transit will be celebrating “Try Transit Week” with a variety of events, including “Free Rides Friday” on July 15. Bike Walk Knox will be hosting a bike ride event beginning at the Casual Pint in Fountain City at 6 p.m. on July 12.

The City plans to host more Neighborhoods to Nature walks in other parts of the city in coming months. For more information, call 311 or visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/knoxN2N. To follow and post on social media, please use the hashtag #knoxN2N.