Jim Clayton and the Clayton Homes Foundation will give a "significant six-figure gift" to kick off fundraising for a new 11-acre park in the heart of Halls, a source revealed Wednesday.
The Legacy Parks Foundation has a $575,000 option on the site and the community must raise that amount within six months, with the Clayton gift serving as a major first step for the fund drive, the source added.
The new park at 7347 Norris Freeway is planned as the hub for a system of Halls-area greenways, leading from the park in "spokes" to connect the community's parks, schools, neighborhoods and retail centers, a Legacy Parks Foundation announcement stated.
Clayton's gift and plans for the park will be announced at 3 p.m. today in a community celebration at the planned site across from the Halls' Wal-Mart. Attendees will get a glimpse of what the land would look like if the fundraising campaign is successful, the announcement stated.
Plans call for play equipment and trails, but the Halls park would mainly be a passive park, giving area residents the opportunity to interact with nature and the wildlife along Beaver Creek.
Today's event will include performances by the Halls High School Band and cheerleaders, balloons, an old-fashioned sing-along and refreshments.
Jim Clayton will be a presenter as will former Knox County Executive Tommy Schumpert, and community leaders and members Carl Tindell and Wilma Jordan.
The Legacy Parks Foundation, established in 2005, is a nonprofit group that operates in partnership, yet independently of, Knoxville and Knox County's departments of parks and recreation.
It has been instrumental in raising gifts of land or funds for new skateboard parks, greenway extensions, the Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge and more.
The foundation is funded by grants, corporate and individual contributions and fundraising activities.
For more information, call Legacy Parks Foundation at 865-215-6606 or visit its Web site, www.legacyparks.org.
Marti Davis may be reached at 865-342-6305.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/27/six-figure-gift-going-to-halls-park-from-clayton/
