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Ribbon cutting for new pickleball courts

Kingsport’s Parks & Recreation Department will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony next week for the two new pickleball courts at Riverview Park.

The event will take place at 2 p.m. on April 27 at Riverview Park (300 Louis Street). If you plan to attend, please park in the south lot of the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex. Local players will be on hand giving a demonstration of how to play pickleball.

Pickleball is a game similar to tennis, but played on a smaller court with a racket much like an oversized ping-pong paddle. Due to the rising popularity of the sport in our region, Kingsport converted two tennis courts at Riverview Park into six pickleball courts last year.

The most recent project at the park added two new courts adjacent to the existing six. In addition, the city funded all new fencing, nets and equipment, along with making the courts ADA accessible. Cost of this project was approximately $167,000.

“Pickleball is a great sport for all ages and skill levels that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong,” said Kitty Frazier, parks and recreation manager. “Since pickleball is extremely popular these days, our new courts will surely get plenty of use in the future.”

For more information on Riverview Park please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Opening Day for Miracle League this Saturday

Opening Day for the spring baseball season of Kingsport’s Miracle League will be this Saturday (April 23) at 10 a.m. at the Miracle Complex at Brickyard Park.

The season runs until June 25 with games held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Games typically run two to three innings or about an hour in length. Jerseys are provided at no cost and there is no fee to participate in the league.

“There’s never been an entry fee or charge for anything. That’s the way we want it to be,” said Visit Kingsport Executive Director Jud Teague, who spearheaded the Miracle Complex project.

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

The 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.

Kingsport’s Miracle 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. The city will be accepting new players on opening day: ages 17 and under can register at 10 a.m.; ages 18 and up at noon.

During the 2021 season, more than 125 kids and young adults participated in the Miracle League. This year, approximately 140 have registered to play.

“That’s a good number of players to have, but we believe there may be more people in our region who are interested in playing,” said Kingsport’s Parks and Recreation Manager Kitty Frazier. “We’re encouraging them to come out on opening day and see how unique and great our facility is.”

Kingsport’s Miracle Complex received a Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association award for outstanding new facility and the Mark Miller Tennessee Public Works Project of the Year Award in 2021.

The complex includes the Miracle Field, a pavilion and an all-accessible playground. Future additions being planned for the complex include a soccer field, pedal park and zip lines.

For more information about Kingsport’s parks and playgrounds, visit kingsportparksandrecreation.org. For more information about Miracle Leagues, visit www.miracleleague.com.

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Kingsport Aquatic Center is looking for lifeguards

At the Kingsport Aquatic Center, lifeguards hold a very important position. They are the watchful eyes on duty who keep you safe whether you are on the pool or on the deck, and they are the first point of contact for any emergencies that happen in the building. As a year-round swimming facility, lifeguards are an integral part of everyday operations at the KAC, and right now, they are looking to hire some good people up for the challenge.

If you want to know if you’ve got what it takes to be a good lifeguard, there are a few things to keep in mind.

“A good lifeguard has to be a good communicator in order to prevent injuries, in and around the water, and be able to communicate clearly with their teammates during rescues,” said Jessie Charlton, aquatics operation coordinator. “It is also important that they have good people skills and the ability to stay calm in emergencies.”

When most people think of lifeguarding, they imagine only the emergency rescues, but a good lifeguard is constantly monitoring their surroundings and working to stop emergencies before they happen.

While lifeguarding is a job that requires some specific aptitudes from the start, it is also an opportunity for workers to experience immense growth in their personal skill set. For those who have worked as a lifeguard in the past, the skills that they bring with them from the job have been applicable in many different areas of life.

“Lifeguarding teaches patience, how to be a part of a team, problem solving skills, and responsibility,” said Charlton.

The KAC is open and operating year-round and is always looking for new lifeguards. They offer a fun, flexible working environment with plenty of room to grow and are now hiring at $10/hour. If you’d like to be part of a team that works together to save lives, please visit swimkingsport.com/employment-opportunities/.

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Street resurfacing to begin in Lynn Garden

Beginning next week (April 25), the City of Kingsport and Pavewell Paving Company will begin street resurfacing work in the Lynn Garden neighborhood.

The paving work involves nine miles of streets on the eastern side of Lynn Garden Drive. Pavewell will resurface Virginia Street, Mullins Street, Kyle Street, Walker Street, Goal Street and Clark Circle through the use of $500,000 in America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. City work crews will resurface the remaining streets in that area.

Pavewell is scheduled to be complete by May 27. City crews will work through the summer.

Detour signs will be in place at various locations during construction. Motorists are asked to use caution when traveling near this area and use alternative routes to reach their destination.

Kingsport continues to make street resurfacing a high priority this year, all the while working under a sustainable program where city-owned streets are paved every 20 to 25 years.

For the past six years Kingsport has taken a data-driven approach to street resurfacing. Through the use of a specialized vehicle, all of Kingsport’s roads were scanned in 2016 and ranked from 0 to 100 based on condition.

This assessment found that the citywide average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) was 60.65. A second assessment done this past fall found the PCI to be 67.88. The ultimate goal is to reach a PCI of 70.

In recent years, Kingsport has budgeted $2 million to $3 million a year on street resurfacing, which amounts to 17 to 21 miles of city roads being repaved every year. In addition to city-funded paving, nearly $10 million in state funds was allocated last year for the repaving of 16 miles of state highways throughout the Model City.

Kingsport set a goal of increasing its PCI by five points from 2016 to 2021. According to the latest assessment, the PCI increased by more than seven points.

“We grew the percentage of roads in good shape and shrunk the percentage of roads in bad shape,” Deputy City Manager Ryan McReynolds said. “We’ve not corrected all of the roads in Kingsport, but we have good data that says we’re on the proper path.”

For more information on Kingsport’s paving schedule visit www.pavekingsport.com.

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Kingsport strengthening its cybersecurity measures

Last year was one of the most active years for cyberattacks, with businesses experiencing 50% more attacks per week in 2021 compared to 2020.

Experts say 30,000 websites are hacked every day and that every 39 seconds a company falls victim to a cyberattack. The average cost of a data breach rose in 2021, from $3.86 million to $4.24 million.

Unfortunately, cyberattacks are happening more often and with greater sophistication.

“I take this kind of stuff very seriously,” said Mark Woomer, the IT director for the City of Kingsport. “I don’t want anything to happen here on my watch if I can help it.”

Kingsport’s IT department is responsible for installing and maintaining the city’s computers, servers, printers, and email and phone systems. In addition, the seven-member department is responsible for protecting and securing the city’s data and making sure it’s available to the right people at the right time.

Like most other cities across the country, Kingsport gets hit with a variety of cyberattacks on a fairly regular basis, including malware, ransomware, denial of service attacks and viruses. Woomer’s IT department works hard every day to ensure the city’s systems, computers and data are safe and secure.

Now, through the use of $140,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Kingsport is planning to strengthen its cybersecurity measures. The department is planning to do this through the purchase of new software and a couple of hardware solutions, all of which should be fully implemented in six to 12 months.

In addition, Woomer hopes to use a portion of these funds to hold quarterly training sessions with city employees on cybersecurity – reminding employees what to do and what not to do while working on a computer.

“Just to increase awareness and keep people on their toes,” Woomer explained of the training sessions. “Employees have been doing pretty well, but we don’t want to lose that awareness.”

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Registration Now Open for Summer Day Camp at Bays Mountain Park

Adventure and learning come together every day at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium! This summer, your child can spend a week learning and exploring in nature at Bays Mountain Park’s Summer Day Camp.

Registration is now open for 2022 Summer Day Camp sessions for rising 1st through 6th graders. Each week-long Day Camp session is filled with outdoor, nature-oriented activities that give your child hands-on learning experiences.

Day camp hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Students entering 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades in Fall 2022:

  • May 30 – June 3
  • June 13 – 17
  • June 27 – July 1
  • July 11 – 15
  • July 25 – 29

Students entering 4th, 5th and 6th grades in Fall 2022:

  • June 6 – 10
  • June 20 – 24
  • July 4 – 8
  • July 18 – 22

Campers should bring a bag lunch with a drink each day, and wear appropriate clothing. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Parents or guardians should plan to stay on the first morning for a short orientation of the week’s activities and expectations. Transportation to and from camp is the guardian’s responsibility.

Tuition for camp is $75 per child. A current Family Membership with the park is required to register your child for Day Camp. Family Memberships are $50 and give your family an entire year of free entry into the park for one vehicle and up to six free passes per program (planetarium shows, barge rides and nature programs) every time you visit the park.

To register your child for Day Camp, please visit bit.ly/day-camp2022 to sign up online. Sign up now as spots are filling up fast!

Bays Mountain Park is also hiring Junior and Senior Counselors for summer day camp! High school seniors or college students studying natural history or related fields, or with experience working with children, can learn more about these full-time paid positions at baysmountain.com. Please apply by Wednesday, April 27.

For more information about Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, please visit baysmountain.com or call (423)229-9447.

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Property maintenance remains high priority

Kingsport has taken a more proactive approach to code enforcement in recent years, especially when it comes to dilapidated structures.

So much so that during a given a year, the city will order 25 to 35 demolitions. Presently, there’s more than 60 active cases within the city’s building department – three houses have already been demolished this year, two more are out for bid, two cases have been appealed to Sullivan County Chancery Court while six more are ready for the wrecking ball.

Kingsport allocated $75,000 in year end money last fall to cover the cost of demolitions, mowing grass and boarding up doors/windows at neglected properties.

“I’m a firm believer that our property maintenance code is one of the most important codes we have, as a city,” said Keith Bruner, building official for the city.

City officials have said tearing down a dilapidated structure helps the neighborhood on a number of fronts – it improves the value of nearby properties, removes any squatters who may have taken up residence and curbs the spread of dilapidation. When one house gets dilapidated, the phenomenon tends to spread to other nearby properties.

On the flip side, when people take pride in their homes, their neighbors tend to do so as well.

“Our city code helps ensure the value of people’s property to increase instead of decreasing and affecting their right of the enjoyment of their property,” Bruner said.

Under state law, Kingsport has the authority to demolish unfit structures and the general process is as follows:

  • The city receives a complaint about a structure and the building department performs an initial inspection. If it meets the definition of an unfit structure, a dilapidation case is created.
  • The owners are identified and given 30 days to repair or raze the structure.
  • If the owners fail to act, then the case moves towards the hearing process, where the building official will render a decision about the future of the property following a hearing.
  • Owners can appeal the decision to Sullivan County Chancery Court and ultimately to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
  • If Kingsport has to demolish the structure, a lien for that cost is placed on the property and once the property is sold, the city would then collect the lien.
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Kingsport implements new software for Leisure Services Department

The City of Kingsport has partnered with CivicPlus – a Kansas-based technology company – to implement new recreation software for the city’s leisure services department.

The software – called CivicRec – is available now and it allows residents to find out information about all of the activities, classes and sporting events taking place within the city. In addition, residents are able to register for events, make payments, manage memberships, reserve facilities and more, all conveniently online through a computer, tablet or smartphone.

CivicRec will also be available through the city app, ConnectKingpsort. Just download the free app on the App Store or Google Play Store and click the “CivicRec” button to get started.

“Our goal is to have good online and mobile capabilities so people can use their phones to pre-purchase tickets or reserve rental space in a very user-friendly way,” said Kari Matheney, leisure services analyst with the City of Kingsport. “That was one of the key things we looked at going into this project.”

Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, Kingsport Aquatic Center, Kingsport Farmers Market, Kingsport Senior Center, the Office of Cultural Arts and Parks & Recreation will all be tied into the new CivicRec system.

So, whether you need to purchase planetarium tickets, check on a swim lesson or reserve a room at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium – all you have to do is visit https://secure.rec1.com/TN/kingsport-tn/catalog and make your selection. Plus, as of April 6, 2022, there is no credit card convenience fee for purchasing tickets or memberships online through the CivicRec software.

The software also allows for the signing of digital waivers for sporting events and will send you notifications in case an event is canceled due to inclement weather.

“The City of Kingsport offers high quality leisure services that directly impact our citizens and visitors quality of life,” said Michael Borders, assistant city manager. “CivicRec will offer greatly increased accessibility to these services and will provide expanded opportunities to interact with our citizens and visitors. We are very excited to have this platform and to continue building and expanding our online and mobile capabilities.”

CivicRec is part of the CivicPlus Platform of local government technology solutions designed exclusively for the public sector.

“CivicPlus is built on designing innovative solutions for local governments,” said Rebecca Barton, CivicRec Product Marketing Manager. “We continually invest in our products, such as CivicRec, to strengthen and transform the way local governments work and communicate with their citizens and are proud to partner with Kingsport to help them accomplish their goals.”

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Kingsport Public Library Reading Challenge

From now until the end of the month, the staff at the Kingsport Public Library wants to challenge the community to read more minutes in the month of April than they do.

“During the Winter Reading Challenge the library staff read 411 hours. In April, we’re challenging you to try and read more than we do,” said Library Manager Chris Markley. “Librarians love to read, so you’ve got your work cut out for you if you want to beat us.”

It’s easy to participate in the challenge. Simply register each family member and log your reading minutes at kingsportlibrary.beanstack.org or through the Beanstack mobile app. The more you read, the greater the chance the community will read more than the librarians.

If you have any questions or need help getting started, feel free to contact the Kingsport Public Library at 423-224-2539.

Happy reading, Kingsport.

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Spend your summer with Parks & Recreation

Need a summer job and enjoy spending time with kids? Then the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department just might have the perfect position for you.

From now until May, the department is hiring attendants and leaders for its summer youth program. The jobs will run from late May until late July and average 30 to 40 hours per week.

Summer staff will be placed at various site locations across Kingsport and duties will include organizing games and activities, supervising, directing and leading the participants (ages 6 to 12). Outdoor activities will be included in a majority of the program.

Qualifications – You must be at least 16 years old, have experience working with pre-school or school aged children and/or study  in the field of recreation, early elementary education, physical fitness, special needs, art, music, drama and/or experience in a related field preferred. To apply go to www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kingsport.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee