Department recently underwent a reorganization for greater efficiency, responsiveness

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department is developing a new master plan with short-term and long-term goals, which aim to cultivate a stronger community through exceptional programs, facilities and recreational opportunities.

With that in mind, the City of Kingsport needs the community’s help. Kingsport’s Parks and Recreation Department has launched an online citizen survey and will be hosting public meetings to receive feedback from the community.

“The master plan will serve as a roadmap for the next five years of Parks and Recreation in Kingsport, guiding thoughtful decisions about how facilities, programs, and resources are managed and developed,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Borders. “Participation in the citizen survey and public meetings helps to ensure that resources are deployed where they will most benefit the Kingsport community.”

The survey will be open for three weeks and is available for Kingsport residents now, at the following link: https://bit.ly/kpr-survey

Four public, drop-in style meetings will be held in September and October at the following location:

• September 27 (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) at the Kingsport Farmers Market.
• October 2 (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) at the Kingsport Aquatic Center.
• October 23 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Kingsport Renaissance Center Atrium.
• October 27 (5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex Douglass Room.

Additionally, Kingsport is pleased to announce an internal reorganization that aims to consolidate several divisions that provide recreational and cultural services into a single, unified Department of Parks and Recreation.

This reorganization brings together the former divisions of Parks and Recreation, Cultural Arts, Special Events, Parks Maintenance, the Senior Center, and the Kingsport Aquatic Center under one department.

The goal of this consolidation is to better serve Kingsport residents by creating a more efficient and responsive organization. By bringing these related services and facilities together, the city can streamline operations, encourage greater collaboration among staff, and deliver a consistent and high-quality experience for a stronger and more vibrant community.

Leading the newly organized department is Tyler Wicks, who is Kingsport’s fourth Director of Parks and Recreation. Wicks has served the city since 2021 at Bays Mountain Park, most recently as Chief Ranger, and previously worked for Tennessee State Parks.

Joining Wicks on the department’s leadership team are Chassy Smiley, Superintendent of Recreation Services; Kristie Leonard, Superintendent of Cultural Services; Zach Drozdowski, Park Services Manager; Shirley Buchanan, Senior Center Manager; and Wendy Terrazas, Aquatic Center Manager.

“This is a pivotal moment for Parks and Recreation in Kingsport,” Wicks said. “As we launch this master planning process and bring all of our recreation and cultural services together under one department, we’re inviting residents to share their voices and ideas. Your input will help shape the vision for how our parks, programs, and facilities can best serve Kingsport.”

 

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department will be celebrating the season finale of its inaugural NFL FLAG Football league on September 18 at Hunter Wright Stadium.

The finale will feature an Orange and Black flag football game by the Milligan University Girls Flag Football Team, followed by medal presentations and the championship games. The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. and the event is free and open to the public.

Schedule of events:

• 6 p.m. – Orange and Black scrimmage game
• 6:45 p.m. – Medal presentation for 5-6 league and 7-8 league
• 7 p.m. – Championship game for 9-10 league
• 8 p.m. – Championship game for 11-12 league

“Our inaugural flag football season has been a success, we believe the kids have had a great time playing and we’re excited about celebrating its finale,” said Chassy Smiley, Recreation Superintendent for Kingsport Parks and Recreation.

This year marked Kingsport’s official entry into the National Football League’s premier youth flag football program, joining more than 750,000 athletes in over 1,800 leagues nationwide.

Kingsport’s NFL FLAG Football program is offered through a partnership between the City of Kingsport and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport, offering boys and girls a safe, fun and competitive environment to develop their skills and passion for football.

For information about other classes, programs and events from Kingsport Parks and Recreation, visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

The existing four routes have also been redesigned for greater efficiency

The Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) is planning to add a fifth bus route to its service area later this month, thus providing passengers with more efficient routes throughout the Model City.

Since 2023, KATS has been operating four bus routes within the City of Kingsport. Beginning on September 29, the service will add a fifth bus route for residents. Adding a fifth route allowed for the redesign of the four existing routes to make them more efficient and desirable for passengers, both timewise and destination-wise

“We’re excited to be able to offer a fifth route to Kingsport residents later this month,” said Transit Director Chris Campbell. “Staff worked hard creating this new route, redesigning the other four routes and we believe all of our patrons will be pleased with the results.”

Route 5 will go by Maple Oak Apartments, Kiwanis Towers, the Fort Henry Mall/Library, Walmart (on Fort Henry Drive), the Social Security office, the Kingsport Aquatic Center and the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex every weekday.

In addition, free bus fares will be offered on all routes during the first week of service (September 29 through October 3).

For more information on KATS and all of its services, please visit www.kingsporttransit.org or call KATS at 423-224-2613.