Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and Covenant Health fitness expert Missy Kane announced today free walking and hiking programs that will be offered this spring and summer on City and County greenways.
Mayors Rogero and Burchett announced their partnered "Tour de Fleur" wildflower walking series, which is a free tour of greenways where an Ijams nature guide discusses previously labeled flowers. Last year, the event series debuted on Will Skelton and Ten Mile Creek greenways. The mayors announced the new greenways introduced to the program this year.
They also announced the "Happy Hiker" programs offered at various City and County senior centers.
Missy Kane announced the dates and locations for her "Get Out On Local Trails with Missy Kane and Legacy Parks" program. Kane hosts her hikes on City, County, and State trails. Each event in her program is free, but she does accept donations to benefit the Friends of Legacy Parks.
Ijams Nature Center Executive Director Paul James also announced walks that Ijams offers at its 275-acre property. Those include night owl hikes, wildflower walks, and other nature programs.
Other walking programs that were featured in the press conference today included the Knox County Health Department's Active-8 Series, the Knoxville Track Club's Knox Walks program, and the Nordic Walks that will be operated out of the Outdoor Knoxville Center on Neyland Greenway.
Tour De Fleur Wildflower Walks
May 5: Victor Ashe Park; meet at the pavilion
June 2: Ten Mile Creek Greenway, starting at Walker Springs Park
July 7: Will Skelton Greenway, starting at Ijams Nature Center
August 4: Holston River Park, starting at main shelter
September 8: Halls Greenway; meet at the Halls Library
October 6: Ten Mile Creek Greenway, starting at the Wynnsong Theater Parking Area
Get Out on Local Trails with Missy Kane and Legacy Parks
June 6: James White Greenway to the Alex Haley Statue, starting at Outdoor
Knoxville Adventure Center
June 13: New Harvest Park
June 20: Frozen Head State Park (more difficult) or Victor Ashe Park (less difficult)
June 27: Concord Park Trails
July 11: Forks of the River, beginning at Ijams Nature Center
July 18: Fort Dickerson Greenway at the Augusta Road entrance
July 24: House Mountain Natural Area