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Public encouraged to attend meetings on major recreation projects

The City of Kingsport will be holding a series of public meetings this month to receive input from the community about two major projects taking place at Bays Mountain Park and Brickyard Park.

Kingsport is applying for a Local Parks and Recreation Funds grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. A requirement of the grant is for the City of Kingsport to hold a series of public meetings, which will be held on the following dates:

  • May 13 at 4 p.m. at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex (301 Louis Street).
  • May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Bays Mountain Park Farmstead Museum.
  • May 14 at 12 p.m. at the Kingsport Public Library (400 Broad Street).

The public is encouraged to attend any of these meetings and provide input on two projects taking place at Bays Mountain Park and Brickyard Park. The projects are as follows:

Brickyard Park – The project focuses on the development of bike trails, featuring skills areas and natural surface trails. Additionally, there will be the construction of a lighted parking lot expansion and ADA sidewalk connections.

“These improvements aim to provide recreational opportunities for bikers of all skills levels while ensuring accessibility for all visitors, ultimately enhancing the overall experience at Brickyard Park,” said Parks and Recreation Manager Kitty Frazier.

Bays Mountain Park – This project deals with the renovation of the lower level of the Nature Center, including the addition of a new ADA accessible entry walk and event terrace, along with the construction of a new otter habitat with ADA accessible viewing and pathways.

“Through these renovations, Bays Mountain Park seeks to not only improve infrastructure but also promote inclusivity and environmental education, fostering a stronger connection between the community and the natural world,” said Park Manager Megan Krager.

For more information about the projects, contact Kitty Frazier at 423-229-9408 or Megan Krager at 423-229-9490. For more information about other events, activities and programs offered by Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Bring the kids downtown to celebrate Public Works Day 2024

The City of Kingsport is hosting its annual Public Works Day at the Farmers Market on May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is being held during National Public Works Week (May 19-25) – a week-long celebration started by the American Public Works Association in 1960 to show the public the importance of public works in their daily lives.

This year’s theme is “Advancing Quality of Life for All,” which highlights the way public works professionals continually advance the quality of life physically, through infrastructure, and inspirationally, through service to their communities.

“Public Works is the thread that connects us all, no matter where we live in the world,” said Deputy City Manager Ryan McReynolds. “Like previous years, we plan to showcase the breadth and depth of services offered to our customers, from snow removal to the street sweepers to the directional drills, to the guys who trim trees and put the asphalt down.”

In all, about 50 pieces of equipment will be on hand during the event, including automated garbage collection trucks, a trash grabber truck, mini street sweeper, leaf collection equipment, sewer camera vans, a directional drill machine, mowers, a backhoe and mini paver.

Kids will be able to take a short trip up in a bucket truck, try and pick up a tire with a grabber truck, hook a metal pin with a backhoe or attempt to drop a tennis ball into a bucket with a Gradall machine.

All divisions within public works will be represented and employees will be on hand to demonstrate the equipment and answer questions from the public. Several presentations explaining essential daily operations will take place throughout the event.

In addition to the heavy equipment, activity stations will be set up to allow children to paint sign replicas of manhole covers, look through microscopes to see bacteria and see how cameras go through sewer pipes. Kids can also play in the large sandbox, run through a water sprinkler and visit the “Then & Now” display to see public works equipment of today and in the past.

Kingsport’s Public Works Department is the largest, non-school related, department in the city with approximately 362 employees. The department includes water and sewer, streets and sanitation, building maintenance, traffic, fleet maintenance, GIS, engineering, stormwater, IT, Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation and Planning Organization.

Notice of Public Review Period – TIP Amendment #3

Due to receiving the documentation late for Amendment #3 to the Transportation Improvement Program, an additional public review period will be held from May 9, 2024 through May 18, 2024. You can review the amendment documentation here. Please send any questions or comments to MTPO@KingsportTN.gov during the review period.

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Kingsport’s Summer Camp Program accepting registrations

Kingsport’s Parks and Recreation Department is still accepting registrations for its annual summer camp program.

In this program, your elementary and middle school-aged kids will participate in games, crafts, movie time, outdoor activities, sports and swimming trips throughout the summer.

The summer camp program is open to children ages 6-12 and will be held at the V.O. Dobbins Sr., Center (301 Louis Street). Participants must have completed kindergarten and turned 6 by September 1.

Summer camp runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day and the cost and the dates for the sessions are as follows:

  • Session 1: May 28 to June 14
  • Session 2: June 17 to July 5
  • Session 3: July 8 to July 26
  • Cost per session, per child: $100 for city residents/$120 for non-city residents

Breakfast and lunch are provided through the month of June. Children will need to pack a lunch and snack each day for the month of July. V.O. Dobbins has a maximum registration limit and availability cannot be guaranteed. Participants are registered on a first come, first served basis.

You can register by going to V.O. Dobbins or by going to the following website at https://bit.ly/3TGHpv1. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “summer camp” in the search bar.

If you have any questions, contact Renee Ensor (423-224-2489) or Travis Sensabaugh (423-343-9723). For more information, visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Kingsport Aquatic Center hosts Sunset Swim Event

Kick off the summer swimming season next month with a special Sunset Swim event at the Kingsport Aquatic Center.

The event will take place at the outdoor lap pool on May 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event will be limited to 200 people and online pre-registration is encouraged. The cost is $6 per person, and you must be 16 years old or older to attend without a parent or guardian.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3UwkLFS. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or by going to www.kingsporttn.gov and clicking on the “CivicRec” link, then searching for “sunset swim” in the search bar.

The outdoor water park will open the weekend of May 18-19 and then be open daily from May 25 through August 2. Then, from August 3 through September 1, the outdoor water park will only be open on the weekends with the last day of operation being September 2.

Season pass holders and Kingsport Aquatic Center members also have early access to the Outdoor Water Park 30 minutes before the regular opening time (except Sundays). Season pass prices are as follows:

  • Lil’ Splasher (Under 48″) $100
  • Bigger Splasher (48″ & Taller) $125
  • Master Splasher (Age 55+) $100
  • Splash Pack $250
    -4 person household; $15 extra person within same household

2024 Outdoor Water Park Hours

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.

Season passes and memberships can be purchased at www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then select “Aquatic Center” from the list. You can also purchase season passes and memberships in person at the KAC front desk.

To learn more about season pass and membership benefits, call 423-343-9758 or visit swimkingsport.com.

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Kingsport hosting School’s (Almost) Out Skatepark day

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is teaming up with 21:12 Skateboarding and Lincoln Elementary School to host the first ever School’s (Almost) Out Skatepark Day next week, encouraging families to bring their wheels and visit the popular destination for an afternoon of skateboarding, quad/inline skating, scootering, BMX’ing, children’s activities, and giveaways.

The free event will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 19 at the Scott Adams Memorial Skatepark (2016 Brickyard Park Drive). The event will feature raffles, giveaways, activity booths, a paint your own grip tape and mini-board booth, a skateboarding demonstration from the Woodstock Skateshop riders, and other fun activities. Food trucks will also be on site.

The event is made possible through sponsorships from Dobyns Bennett High School, John Sevier Middle School, Lincoln Elementary School, Mayfair Methodist Church, Woodstock Skate Shop, 21:12 Skateboarding, Zionville Ramp Company, and DJ Johnny Red.

For information about other events, activities and programs offered by Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

KPD e-News Release KPD and Local FOP Invites Public to Annual Police Memorial Service

SUBJECT:  KPD and Local FOP Invites Public to Annual Police Memorial Service

DATE:  May 7th, 2024

GENERAL NARRATIVE

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

This year, National Police Week will take place from May 12th through 18th, 2024. Traditionally, the local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 conducts a Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Kingsport Justice Center during National Police Week. 

The service this year will be held on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at 3:00 PM at the Kingsport Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame, located on the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in Downtown Kingsport. As always, the department extends an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us as we remember and honor our local fallen officers, as well as all fallen officers throughout the nation.

The local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 is named in honor of two of the Kingsport Police Department’s Fallen Officers, Patrolman Ira H. Burgess and Patrolman John E. Mills, who were tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 1950 and 1940 respectively. Information regarding these and all of K.P.D.’s Fallen Officers can be found in the following link:

https://www.KingsportTN.gov/Police-Department/Our-Fallen-Officers/

The following inscription is found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“This Memorial is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers in the United States of America.  Inscribed on these walls are the names of those men and women who died in the line of duty.  It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived.”

Links to the National Police Week website and the Officer Down Memorial Page are provided below:

http://www.PoliceWeek.org

https://www.ODMP.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELEASING OFFICER

Lieutenant Justin McConnell

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

Office (423) 229-9499, Fax (423) 343-9749 

JustinMcConnell@KingsportTN.gov

 

 

 

 

 

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KATS offering half price Dial-A-Ride ticket books

The Kingsport Area Transit Service is celebrating “Dial-A-Ride Days” by offering half-price Dial-A-Ride ticket books for $12.00 (which includes 24 tickets per book) for the week of May 13.

The KATS Dial-A-Ride van service is for individuals who reside within the city limits, have a medical condition, are 65 or older, or are going to work. This service is an affordable, reliable, safe and efficient way for Kingsport residents to travel to numerous destinations within the city.

“We want to thank our current Dial-A-Ride customers through this promotion, as well as attract new riders who can benefit greatly from the service,” said Transit Director Chris Campbell. “This is definitely a situation where spending a little money up front will save a lot of money over time.”

Tickets may be purchased at the KATS downtown terminal (located at 900 East Main Street), via cash, check, credit or debit. Tickets may also be purchased directly from the drivers.

Cash and checks are the only form of payment accepted on vehicles. Drivers do not carry cash and cannot make change. Dial-A-Ride tickets do not expire and cannot be used on buses.

For more information about KATS’ services, call 423-224-2613 or visit www.kingsporttransit.org.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee