Blog: City Blog

Big Crowd Helps Launch Everly Brothers Park

More than 100 people turned out Friday evening for the dedication of Everly Brothers Park in Bearden. The festive event, with ice cream provided by Bearden Council and Earth Fare, helped launch a community fundraising effort to provide landscaping and commemorative displays at the pocket park along Kingston Pike to honor the pioneering rock'n'roll duo who spent their formative teenage years as students at West High School.

The park sits on a small piece of land that was acquired by the Tennessee Department of Transportation while it was rebuilding a bridge on Kingston Pike across a rail line. TDOT has provided the City with a longterm lease so the property can be used as a public park.

On the short program, Councilman Duane Grieve and Mayor Madeline Rogero were joined by Bearden Council representatives Terry Faulkner and Dennis Owen, as well as Carol Evans of the Legacy Parks Foundation. Legacy Parks is serving as fiscal agent on the project, collecting donations on behalf of Bearden Council. You can learn all about the project -- and donate online! -- at www.everlypark.org.

Everly Park design

The conceptual design for the park was done by Leslie Fawaz at the East Tennessee Community Design Center.

Everly Park Mayor Rogero

Mayor Rogero greets community members at the dedication of Everly Brothers Park.

Everly Park Duane Grieve

City Councilman Duane Grieve welcomes everybody to the 2nd District.

Everly Park crowd

More than 100 people turned out for the festivities.

Everly Park Council members

Among the attendees were State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey and City Council members Finbarr Saunders, Daniel Brown, Mark Campen and George Wallace.

Everly Park Carol Evans

Carol Evans said Legacy Parks is happy to help support the project.

Everly Park Bearden Council

Terry Faulkner and Dennis Owen (seated, right) talked about Bearden Council's hopes for the park and the whole Bearden Village area.

Everly Park TDOT

Mayor Rogero and Councilman Grieve presented a thank-you gift to TDOT Regional Director Steve Borden for the state agency's close partnership in the park project.

Everly Park display

Posted by On 08 August, 2015 at 9:36 AM