Mayor Rogero, Mayor Burchett, Ambassador Ashe, city and county officials, donors and supporters joined Legacy Parks Foundation in a ribbon cutting ceremony of the 15-mile South Loop. The entrances to the loop are located on View Park Drive in South Knoxville.

The loop is part of Knoxville's Urban Wilderness that connects Ijams Nature Center, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, William Hastie Natural Area and Marie Myers Park.

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.

To acquire eight properties, Legacy Parks Foundation raised the majority of the money 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.