The Kingsport Aquatic Center is once again hosting a two-day Drool Party later this summer for all our furry friends, offering dogs of all breeds and sizes a chance to run, play and socialize in the outdoor water park.

And to top things off, the KAC is offering a new, special session for just small dogs (weighing 25 pounds or less).

“We’re excited about adding a third session to this year’s Drool party, one specifically aimed at small breeds, such as Terriers, Dachshunds and Chihuahuas,” said Aquatics Program Coordinator Madison Gump. “Many folks have suggested this idea in recent years, saying their dogs are afraid of the larger dogs, so we’re happy to be able to offer this special session just for them.”

For more than 10 years the Kingsport Aquatic Center has ended its summer season by inviting dogs of all breeds and sizes to come down and enjoy an afternoon of running, jumping and playing in the toddler play area of outdoor water park.

The Drool Party will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 6 and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on September 7. The small dog session will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on September 7. This will be the final swim of the season before the outdoor facility is “winterized” by the staff.

Admission is $5 per dog and free to owners. Limit two dogs per person, and the dogs’ handler must be over 18 and bring leashes with them.

Your dogs must be up to date on all vaccines, including Parvo, Distemper and Rabies. Bordetella is highly recommended, but not required for this event. Vaccination records are required for entry to the Drool Party.

Bark Avenue and Toadally Pets are expected to be onsite during the event. Dog-related vendors (groomers, boarding, treats) and food trucks interested in setting up at the Drool Party, should contact Madison Gump at madisongump@kingsporttn.gov for more information.

To register for the Drool Party, visit https://bit.ly/3P2HNBD. 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 search for “drool party” in the search bar.

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

The Kingsport Senior Center will be hosting a CarFit and Yellow Dot program next week at the Kingsport Renaissance Center (1200 E. Center Street).

Presented by the Tennessee Trucking Association, the event will take place on August 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event aims to create a safer driving environment for our seniors and help save lives on our streets and highways. The event is free and open to all seniors ages 50 and older.

CarFit is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them, while also providing information on community-specific resources that could enhance driving safety.

A team of trained technicians and/or health professionals will work with each participant to ensure they “fit” their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety. A CarFit check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

The Yellow Dot program is when participants complete a medical information sheet and place it inside their vehicle. The sheet includes emergency contact information, medical information, recent surgeries, hospital preferences, current medications, insurance and physician information.

Then, a Yellow Dot decal is placed on the driver’s side rear window where first responders will be able to see it, consult the medical information sheet to make the best possible decisions during an emergency.

For more information on this upcoming event, please contact the Kingsport Senior Center at 423-392-8400.

The Kingsport Aquatic Center will be temporarily closed from September 1 through September 22 to allow for needed maintenance and key improvements to the locker rooms, family bathrooms, the lazy river and all of the pools at the facility.

DWR Aquatics will be performing the work for the city, which will include the following:

• New starting blocks installed to the Olympic-sized lap pool.
• All indoor pools drained, re-caulked, cleaned and repaired (as needed).
• Locker rooms and family bathrooms painted with new shower fixtures installed.
• Fresh paint on the outdoor water slides and lazy river.
• Other facility maintenance as needed.

The cost of this maintenance and improvement project is approximately $500,000. The facility is scheduled to reopen on September 23. The Kingsport Aquatic Center typically shuts down every three to four years for maintenance/repairs with the previous project taking place in 2019.

“We strive to have a world class aquatics facility, so this shutdown will help us achieve this goal,” said Assistant Aquatic Manager Jessie Charlton.

For more information about the Kingsport Aquatic Center, please visit www.swimkingsport.com.

Registration is now open for the fall baseball season of the Kingsport Miracle League, with games scheduled to begin on August 24.

Kingsport’s Miracle League is for special needs children and young adults who wish to play our nation’s pastime. All games are played at Kingsport’s Miracle Complex (2017 Brickyard Park Drive).

The league has two co-ed divisions: ages 18 and up and ages 17 and under – and the season runs concurrently with the city’s other youth baseball leagues. There is no fee to participate in the league.

The season runs from August 24 until October 6 with games held every Saturday at 10 a.m. (for players ages 17 and under) and 11 a.m. (for players ages 18 and above). No games will be held on August 31. Games typically run two to three innings or about an hour in length. Players new to the fall season will receive free jerseys.

Kingsport’s Miracle Complex has a baseball field about a third of the size of a normal field, and instead of grass or artificial turf, it has a flat, rubberized surface. The mound and all of the bases are flush so wheelchair users and amputees can travel over the surface more easily and safely.

Typically, more than 100 players participate each season in the Kingsport Miracle League.

To register for the Miracle League, visit https://bit.ly/4dgg9ub. 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 search for “miracle league” in the search bar.