Writing a letter to Santa Claus is a cherished tradition done by millions of children around the world every year at Christmastime. The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department understands the significance and plans to lend a hand to Jolly Old Saint Nick again this year.

Beginning December 1 and running through December 12, the department will be collecting children’s letters and making sure they get delivered to the North Pole.

Children of all ages can simply drop off or mail your letters to Santa Claus at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex (301 Louis Street in Kingsport, Tennessee 37660). Even though everyone at the North Pole will be busy getting everything ready for Christmas, Santa intends to send everyone a joyful response to those who write to him.

So, now’s the time to break out the pen and paper and let Santa know what’s on your wish list for Christmas.

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

Every winter as the temperature starts to drop, the pipes in and around your home are at risk of freezing and possibly even bursting. However, by following a few easy tips you can greatly reduce the chance of your pipes freezing and thus saving yourself a costly repair bill in the case of burst pipes.

According to the American Red Cross, the pipes most likely to freeze during the winter months are:

• Pipes exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines and water sprinkler lines.
• Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
• Pipes running against exterior walls with little to no insulation.

To help keep these and other pipes from freezing, be sure to:

• Disconnect all garden hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.
• Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher.
• Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the house to circulate.
• Keep water moving through pipes by allowing a small trickle to run.
• Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with insulation or heating tape.
• Heat your basement and consider weather-sealing your windows.
• Shut off water supply values if away from home for an extended period of time.

“Repairing or replacing burst water pipes can be an expensive and stressful situation. By following these recommendations before the weather turns too cold, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in repairs,” said Assistant Utilities Director Chad Austin.

For more information on preventing and thawing frozen pipes, please visit the American Red Cross website at https://bit.ly/3GlQstI.

Bays Mountain Park officially opened its newest attraction to the public on Friday – the Fox Den Playground – the first of its kind and a playground for children of all ages and abilities.

Park officials held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the playground Friday afternoon before a crowd of more than 100 city officials, park supporters, school-aged children and family members.

“This new playground is a fantastic addition to the park and one that will allow everyone to play together and appreciate the great outdoors,” said Park Manager Megan Krager. “This will be a brand new way for visitors to enjoy and experience Bays Mountain Park.”

Located next to the Herpetarium, the Fox Den Playground is approximately one quarter-acre in size and is accessible to people of all ages and all abilities. Features include multiple climbing structures and slides, such as a Timber Tower, Log Jam, Songbird, Log Pile and Log Steppers.

Development on the Fox Den Playground began more than five years ago with the idea coming from David and Brenda Fox – two long-time supporters of Bays Mountain Park. The Kingsport couple championed this project in memory of their son Parker, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 25.

“We’re thrilled to see a playground at Bays Mountain Park and it’s going to be a great place for kids to play and for families to be together,” said Brenda Fox. “It’s even more meaningful to us as a memorial to our son, Parker. So many friends have donated to it, and the community support has been phenomenal.”

The Fox Den Playground was designed by Coyle & Caron landscape architects and Habitat Designers with help from Collective Architecture. Inland Construction was the main contractor on the project, and the playground equipment was purchased through Great Southern Recreation.

Total cost of the project was $940,000 with a majority of the funding coming from private donations. Kingsport broke ground on the playground in December 2024 with construction beginning this past spring.

For more information about Bays Mountain Park visit www.baysmountain.com.

Kingsport Mayor Paul W. Montgomery has announced the creation of a task force charged with developing a comprehensive plan to improve the financial viability of the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center.

Montgomery made the announcement during a Board of Mayor and Aldermen worksession Monday afternoon.

“As a board, we have a responsibility to our citizens to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Montgomery. “Reviewing and setting a course for MeadowView to be successful for decades to come is an act of good governance and one we take seriously.”

The task force will be comprised of residents and local community members from various organizations, including Visit Kingsport, Eastman, financial institutions, and healthcare.

This task force, working alongside city staff, will develop a vision of what success looks like, not only for MeadowView, but for the City of Kingsport and its taxpayers.

Responsibilities of the new task force will include:

1. Evaluate historical, current and future uses of all portions of the property.
2. Deliver findings on the financial and operational reviews.
3. Produce recommendations by evaluating and identifying barriers to community access and local use.
4. Define the mission of the city’s portion of MeadowView

Opening in 1996, the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center is an 81,000 square foot, multi-purpose convention center with an adjoining 300-room hotel, 18-hole golf course and full-service restaurant.

The facility hosts a variety of meetings, banquets and social events throughout the year, along with high-caliber conventions, trade shows and sporting events. All of these events bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars of economic impact to our city.

However, since 2020 the convention center portion of MeadowView has experienced a number of challenges, which has resulted in its current financial trajectory bring unsustainable.

The Kingsport Area Transit Service is thankful for its Dial-A-Ride passengers and wants to show them our appreciation

As such, KATS is continuing an annual tradition by offering half-price Dial-A-Ride ticket books for $12.00 (which includes 24 tickets per book) from November 17 through November 26.

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’re happy to continue this annual promotion to the residents of Kingsport, both for our long-time riders and folks who have never tried this service before,” said Transit Director Chris Campbell.

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

Note – The Dial-A-Ride tickets can also be used with the KATS Connect program.

Cash and checks are the only form of payment accepted on vehicles. Check payments will be accepted through November 29 and can be mailed to KATS at 900 E. Main Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.

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.