Fort Kid is located at 1050 World's Fair Park in Downtown Knoxville. The park closed April 6, 2020 for new construction and reopened on March 6, 2023.
Look below for construction archives.
| CITY CELEBRATES NEW FORT KID PARK |
After years of planning, Mayor Indya Kincannon and other community leaders cut the ribbon on the new Fort Kid Park, Monday, March 6, 2023. While some finishing work is still being completed at the site, the new playground is now open to the public.
Improvements at the site include:
• A new accessible play surface
• A fort tower and slide
• Climbing and balancing poles
• A fully- accessible merry-go-round
• A toddler play area
• A new, full- accessible pathway
• And, new site grading and soil enhancements.
View March 6, 2023 News Release
View Photo Gallery of the new Fort Kid
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
Visit Knoxville Donates Funding of Park Amenities
On September 6, 2022, City Council accepted a $44,456 contribution from Visit Knoxville to amend the contract with Great Southern Recreation for the purchase of new park benches, a decorative gated entrance, and new fencing at Fort Kid. Because of increased costs for building materials, these items were initially removed from the project scope until additional funding could be secured. The benches will be black powder coated and the decorative gate at the park entrance will match the colors of the centerpiece tower play structure.
View Engineering Project Sheet [PDF]
JULY 18, 2022
Project Update
On June 14, 2022, City Council approved a contract amendment with Design and Construction Services, Inc. (DCS) to complete the site prep, grading, sidewalks, and stone work for Fort Kid in the amount of $399,757. $250,000 in funding has been provided by the Downtown Knoxville Alliance for this phase of the project with the balance funded through the City’s Parks and Recreation budget.
Grading and site prep work has begun by DCS for the new park at Fort Kid. This phase of construction, to be completed in September, will include concrete work to create a new accessible sidewalk from World’s Fair Park Drive to provide better connectivity between Knoxville Museum of Art, Fort Kid Park, and the parking lot. Additionally, stone work will create additional access to the play structures and a seat-wall around the west side of the park. Once DCS’s work is complete, new play structures will be installed by Great Southern Recreation as represented in the renderings on this page. The City horticulture team will then install landscaping.
JUNE 1, 2021
Agreement Approved for $450,000 Fort Kid Play Structure
City Council on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, authorized Mayor Indya Kincannon’s staff to finalize an agreement for up to $450,000 with Great Southern Recreation to design and construct a unique, safe and more accessible play structure at Fort Kid. The original 30-year-old play area and a decaying retaining wall made of railroad ties were removed last year due to safety concerns.
Read Full Press Release
Presentation to City County - June 1, 2021 [PDF]
Click images for larger views in PDF format.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
Downtown Alliance Contributes Up To $250,000 Toward Accessible, Interactive Entryway to Fort Kid
As part of the reconstruction of Fort Kid, an accessible entryway path with interactive features is being funded through a contribution of up to $250,000 from the Downtown Knoxville Alliance – bringing City and partner funding for renovating the Fort Sanders play area to a total of as much as $750,000.
Hedstrom Landscape Architecture has developed a concept for the slope and path to connect World’s Fair Park Drive with Fort Kid. The terminus of the sloped path at the top of the hill would be at a newly created accessible entrance to the play structure and a new accessible parking area.
Read Full News Release
Fort Kid Community Survey Summary [PDF]
Concept for the slope between Fort Kid and World's Fair Park Drive Developed by Hedstrom Landscape Architecture - conceptual and subject to change as City finalizes the design. Click here for larger view in PDF format.
PBA Property Development Project Status
MARCH 12, 2020
Online Survey and Images Released as Community Ideas Are Sought for Renovation of Fort Kid
Read Full Press Release
ORIGINAL FORT KID
