Summer is
almost here, and with it comes long afternoons of hot sun. The Kingsport
Aquatic Center will be your perfect place to cool off and have some fun when
the Outdoor Water Park opens on May 13 at 10:30 a.m.
The Outdoor
Water Park is no neighborhood pool. A day pass or water park season pass gives
you access to the 900-foot Eastman Credit Union lazy river, two waterslides, a
climbing structure with water cannons and the lily pad crossing as well as all
the indoor pools. Rent an outdoor cabana for the perfect shady spot for your
family to relax between all that aquatic adventure.
“The Kingsport
Aquatic Center is the ideal place to relax and have some splashing fun without
having to fight traffic,” said Aquatic Director Kari Matheney. “We have
something to do for every age in a family-friendly environment.”
The Kingsport
Aquatic Center’s summer season also comes packed with programs and events. Swim
lessons, lifeguard training, swim clinics and the Junior Viperfish Swim Team
are great ways for swimmers of all abilities to learn and grow their water
skills. When FunFest rolls around, the KAC will host a pool party, a cardboard
boat race and more.
This May is
Water Safety Month, and the KAC will celebrate and educate all month long, with
a day full of learning on International Water Safety Day on May 15. The KAC
will host the MATE International ROV Competition on June 20-22. The summer
rounds out with Back-to-School Movie Night on August 3.
Don’t forget
that the KAC offers more than just a pool to swim in—there’s water aerobics
classes all summer long, too. The ever-popular lazy river classes and poolside
yoga will start back in June as part of a full slate of water aerobics.
The Kingsport
Aquatic Center would also like to take this moment to remind everyone to be
mindful of safety this summer. As always, please wear shoes in the parking lot
and do not let children roam the lot unaccompanied. The KAC is taking every
step possible to ensure your safety during the construction of a new pool this
summer, but we encourage you to practice good safety habits as well.
“With a lot of
activities occurring at the facility this summer, we encourage our guests to be
aware of their surroundings and be vigilant both inside and outside the
waterpark areas,” said Matheney. “We have a new road at our entrance and
additional vehicular traffic in the lot, so watching out for small children,
wearing appropriate footwear upon entering and leaving the facility, and
observing any area closures due to construction will assist us in making your
visit as pleasurable as possible during our expansion process.”
Admission at the KAC is based on industry
standards. Upon arrival, children will be required to take off their shoes and
be measured. If the child is 48” or taller, their admission to the park is $10.
If the child is less than 48”, their admission cost is $8. Seniors are $8 and
children two and under are free with a paying adult. Remember, visit after 4
p.m. and receive half-price admission!
Water Park Season Passes that grant you access to
all the KAC’s pools from May through September are also available, as well as
monthly and annual memberships. Visit swimkingsport.com for pricing and
information.
Outdoor Water Park hours beginning May
13:
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
and Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday:
noon to 6 p.m.
On Memorial and Labor Days, the entire KAC will be
open 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On July 4, the entire facility will be open 10:30
a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning August 5, the Outdoor Water Park will be open 4 to 8
p.m. during the week, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on
Sundays.
To learn more about the Kingsport Aquatic Center or purchase your Water Park Season Pass, please visit swimkingsport.com.
KATS Promotion: FREE Bus Rides on Election Day – May 21st
City NewsKATS will offer free rides on all bus routes all day long Tuesday, May 21st in order to encourage people to come out and vote during the Kingsport Municipal Elections. Take advantage of this free day in order to place your vote.
Make sure you take advantage of this deal, and tell your friends and family members. You can learn more about KATS at www.kingsporttransit.org. Thank you for choosing KATS!
WHAT: Free bus rides on all routes
WHERE: Route buses
WHEN: Tuesday, May 21st
Join the city for the popular, hands-on Public Works event at the Farmers Market!
City NewsThe week of May 19 through May 25 is National Public Works Week as declared by the American Public Works Association. Kingsport Public Works professionals will be on hand on Friday, May 24, for the popular Public Works Day event.
Public Works professionals are, in short, the people who maintain and improve the systems and services vital to a community’s health, safety and comfort. At the event, Public Works experts will demonstrate the work of those who plan, manage, and maintain the city’s essential infrastructure, including water, sewer, solid waste collection, maintenance of public buildings and transportation networks.
“We have an extraordinary group of employees who are dedicated to serving the taxpayers of Kingsport,” said Public Works Director Ryan McReynolds. “We appreciate the community taking a few minutes out of their day to visit with us at the Farmers Market Pavilion. It’s a great opportunity for us to personally explain the many of services offered by the city.”
The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Farmers Market Pavilion, with equipment displays, kid-friendly activities and other information as well as several presentations explaining essential daily operations. Lunch will also be provided.
What: City of Kingsport Public Works Day
Where: Farmers Market Pavilion
When: Friday, May 24 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Catron with the City of Kingsport Public Works Department at 423-229-9470 or sheilacatron@kingsporttn.gov. For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.
Kids to Parks Day at Bays Mountain Park
City NewsKids to Parks Day—that’s every day, right? Of course, but this year Bays Mountain Park is celebrating the official Kids to Parks Day on May 18.
Kids to Parks Day, launched in 2011, is a nationwide celebration of the great outdoors. It’s designed to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks public lands. By discovering and exploring public lands, kids across the country can learn about stewardship and enjoy outdoor recreation. Teaching our kids to appreciate and enjoy public lands is a great way to foster future outdoor enthusiasts and create the next generation of park stewards and caretakers of these important places.
Visit Bays Mountain Park on May 18, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for some great, kid-friendly activities. There will be interactive tables throughout the animal habitats marked with bright balloons from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These tables will focus on many different topics: Bird Calls, Snakes, Frogs and Turtles, Beekeeping Life and more.
The park will also provide “Nature Neighbors – Spiders,” a program catered to children, in the Discovery Theater at 1 p.m. This program is $3 per person for non-members, and tickets will be available at the Nature Center shop on Kids to Parks Day.
Standard entrance fees and other park program fees apply. For more information on Bays Mountain Park, please visit baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.
OPEN CALL for Vendor Applications for The 40th Annual Christmas Connection
City NewsCalling all artists, artisans, creatives, and craftspeople of all trades! Applications are being taken for those wishing to exhibit in this 3-day event, which is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration in order to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and crafting creations. Application deadline is July 1, 2019. There is no cost to apply.
The Christmas Connection, an event sponsored by the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, is celebrating 40 years of artistic creations in 2019! A very well established cultural event in Kingsport, the event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to The Christmas Connection year after year.
This year’s event will take place the first weekend in November, Friday through Sunday, at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.
DATES/HOURS:
FREE Admission to the public!
Fri. Nov. 1: 12Noon – 7PM
Sat. Nov. 2: 10AM – 5PM
Sun. Nov. 3: 12Noon – 4PM
Applications deadline is July 1, 2019.
To access the vendor application from the city website, and for more information visit www.EngageKingsport.com.
Astronomy Day at Bays Mountain
City NewsWe see the Sun and the stars every day, but how much do you actually know about them? On May 11, visit Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium at its celebration of Astronomy Day to learn about the celestial objects our planet calls neighbors.
The Bays Mountain Astronomy Club hosts a yearly celebration of the International Day of Astronomy each year at the park. This free, fun-filled day is a great Saturday activity for the whole family where you’ll learn all about the science and hobby of astronomy.
The club will provide fascinating displays and hands-on activities that educate about astronomy, telescopes, careers and education in astronomy, the Sun and so much more. Over the course of the day, the club will also host Solar and Nighttime Viewings where you’ll have the chance to see the Sun, the stars, the Moon and more up close through powerful telescopes.
Astronomy Day Schedule
1-4:30 p.m.: Displays and information (walkway in front of Nature Center, or inside
Nature Center if raining)
3-3:30 p.m.: Solar Viewing at the dam
8:30-9:30 p.m.: Nighttime Viewing at the Observatory
All non-planetarium astronomy activities are free with park admission on Astronomy Day. Tickets to the planetarium shows currently playing, “First & Farthest” and “Appalachian Skies – Spring,” are $5 for non-members and free for members and children under six.
Summer Swim Lessons at Kingsport Aquatic Center
City NewsSummertime is pool time, and the Kingsport Aquatic Center is here to make sure you or your children are ready to dive in and swim. Summer swim lessons begin this June.
There are four sessions of summer lessons in June and July. All group swim lessons at the Kingsport Aquatic Center are American Red Cross certified. Swim lessons are offered in group, private, and semi-private settings to best suit your child’s needs or your schedule. Summer sessions are eight classes long, Monday through Thursday for two weeks. If you’re unsure of your child’s swim skills, a swim test can help the KAC determine the correct class level for them.
If you are an Aquatic Center or YMCA member, lessons are $50 for your first child and $45 per additional child in your household. If you’re a nonmember lessons are $60 for your first child and $55 per additional child. Scholarships are available for qualifying applicants.
Registration begins in person and online at 8 a.m. on the dates listed below, and will close at 5 p.m. on the final day. To make online registration easier, please create an account before the day of registration. If an account is created after 5 p.m. on Friday and before 8 a.m. on Monday, you will not receive a password until Monday at 8 a.m. Google Chrome and Firefox are compatible web browsers. YMCA members who plan to register online need to show their YMCA card to the KAC front desk staff before registration in order to update the system to reflect your YMCA membership.
Summer Schedule for Group Lessons
For detailed class descriptions and times, information on private lessons, or to set up an account to register for lessons, please visit swimkingsport.com or call the Aquatic Center at (423)343-9758.
Kingsport Aquatic Center Celebrates Water Safety Month
City NewsDo you know how to stay safe around the water? What about how to keep your kids safe, or what to do in the event of an aquatic emergency?
May is National Water Safety Month, and the Kingsport Aquatic Center is here to teach you the tips and tricks you need to know to stay safe not just at its pools, but around any body of water you and your family visit.
“It’s so important to be familiar with basic water-safety skills, especially during summer months when people are more often in the water,” said Kari Matheney, director of the Kingsport Aquatic Center. “Learning to swim and the exposure to the water safety skills and messages that swimming lessons offer provide a lifelong foundation for drowning prevention.”
Join the KAC for International Water Safety Day on May 15, where staff will be on hand with free information and demonstrations on this vitally important topic. Visit from 4 to 7:20 p.m. for mini swim lessons, a movie on water safety and more!
International Water Safety Day schedule
All year round, the Kingsport Aquatic Center is dedicated to water safety. This month, visit the KAC’s social media pages to learn some important tips about how to stay safe. Saving lives is easy if you practice water safety. This Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at the KAC, Vice Mayor Mike McIntire will officially declare May as Water Safety Month in Kingsport.
To learn more about the Kingsport Aquatic Center, please call 423-343-9758 or visit swimkingsport.com.
Kingsport Aquatic Center’s Outdoor Water Park opens May 13
City NewsSummer is almost here, and with it comes long afternoons of hot sun. The Kingsport Aquatic Center will be your perfect place to cool off and have some fun when the Outdoor Water Park opens on May 13 at 10:30 a.m.
The Outdoor Water Park is no neighborhood pool. A day pass or water park season pass gives you access to the 900-foot Eastman Credit Union lazy river, two waterslides, a climbing structure with water cannons and the lily pad crossing as well as all the indoor pools. Rent an outdoor cabana for the perfect shady spot for your family to relax between all that aquatic adventure.
“The Kingsport Aquatic Center is the ideal place to relax and have some splashing fun without having to fight traffic,” said Aquatic Director Kari Matheney. “We have something to do for every age in a family-friendly environment.”
The Kingsport Aquatic Center’s summer season also comes packed with programs and events. Swim lessons, lifeguard training, swim clinics and the Junior Viperfish Swim Team are great ways for swimmers of all abilities to learn and grow their water skills. When FunFest rolls around, the KAC will host a pool party, a cardboard boat race and more.
This May is Water Safety Month, and the KAC will celebrate and educate all month long, with a day full of learning on International Water Safety Day on May 15. The KAC will host the MATE International ROV Competition on June 20-22. The summer rounds out with Back-to-School Movie Night on August 3.
Don’t forget that the KAC offers more than just a pool to swim in—there’s water aerobics classes all summer long, too. The ever-popular lazy river classes and poolside yoga will start back in June as part of a full slate of water aerobics.
The Kingsport Aquatic Center would also like to take this moment to remind everyone to be mindful of safety this summer. As always, please wear shoes in the parking lot and do not let children roam the lot unaccompanied. The KAC is taking every step possible to ensure your safety during the construction of a new pool this summer, but we encourage you to practice good safety habits as well.
“With a lot of activities occurring at the facility this summer, we encourage our guests to be aware of their surroundings and be vigilant both inside and outside the waterpark areas,” said Matheney. “We have a new road at our entrance and additional vehicular traffic in the lot, so watching out for small children, wearing appropriate footwear upon entering and leaving the facility, and observing any area closures due to construction will assist us in making your visit as pleasurable as possible during our expansion process.”
Admission at the KAC is based on industry standards. Upon arrival, children will be required to take off their shoes and be measured. If the child is 48” or taller, their admission to the park is $10. If the child is less than 48”, their admission cost is $8. Seniors are $8 and children two and under are free with a paying adult. Remember, visit after 4 p.m. and receive half-price admission!
Water Park Season Passes that grant you access to all the KAC’s pools from May through September are also available, as well as monthly and annual memberships. Visit swimkingsport.com for pricing and information.
Outdoor Water Park hours beginning May 13:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 6 p.m.
On Memorial and Labor Days, the entire KAC will be open 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On July 4, the entire facility will be open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning August 5, the Outdoor Water Park will be open 4 to 8 p.m. during the week, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
To learn more about the Kingsport Aquatic Center or purchase your Water Park Season Pass, please visit swimkingsport.com.
It’s All in a Name: Encouraging Citizen Input
City NewsThe effort to name our region continues to move forward, and the next step is to ask our citizens. It is important we hear from those who live and work in our region. They have relevant stories to add and insight to offer, which will assist North Star, the consulting firm, in developing a name recommendation that works for the region. While one opinion is simply that – an opinion – a collection of opinions can be powerful.
Please take a moment to complete the survey here. It will take about 15 minutes, and only one completed survey is allowed per IP address. The link will be available until Wednesday, May 22.
For more information on the regional naming initiative, please visit www.nameourregion.com.
Previously released on April 26: An Effort to Unite Our Region
Kingsport Farmers Market Celebrates Agriculture Literacy Week
City NewsIn an effort to encourage students to learn about and develop an interest in agriculture and where their food comes from, the Kingsport Farmers Market in partnership with Kingsport City Schools, is hosting Agriculture Literacy Week May 6th – 11th.
Throughout the week, in celebration of Agriculture Literacy Week, volunteers from the City of Kingsport, Kingsport City Schools, Kingsport Public Library and Keep Kingsport Beautiful will read a book with an agriculture theme to second and third graders at Kingsport City Elementary Schools. After the reading, the book, Right This Very Minute, will be donated to each school’s library for the students to check-out and enjoy.
The Kingsport Public Library is also joining in on the celebration with their story time series. Their Preschool Storytime on May 7th and Time for Two’s Storytime on May 9th, will be centered on the agriculture theme. Both story time sessions will be from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. For more information about these offerings, please visit http://www.kingsportlibrary.org/.
Other activities will include Kids at the Market day on Wednesday, May 8. Here the students will engage in activities at various booths provided by: Kingsport City Schools, Dobyns-Bennett Agriculture class, Dobyns-Bennett Culinary Arts class, Sullivan County Extension, Keep Kingsport Beautiful and Kingsport Farmers Market.
For more information on the Kingsport Farmers Market, or to sign up for our monthly newsletter, please visit kingsportfarmersmarket.org.