Algood Not Selected For Major Parks Grant

Algood did not receive the annual BlueCross Healthy Places Grant designed to pay for new or upgraded parks in Tennessee.

City Administrator Keith Morrison said the grant would have been a major opportunity for the city to continue its work on the new Main Street park, as the grant has a footprint around $1 million. Morrison said the city’s grant writer said this year’s grants are more likely focused on helping rebuild East Tennessee parks.

“As disheartened as we are that we didn’t get it, we’re excited for them and think it’s well deserved with all that they have faced this year and the challenges those communities are enduring to get put back together,” Morrison said. “So we think it’s a great thing for them to get chosen for that.”

Morrison said the city will evaluate what can be done to move the park forward and what upgrades it can budget for going into next year. Morrison said the city needs to extend the park’s entrance and add more parking.

“We’ve got a playground and a restroom facility and a dog park and a walking track over there,” Morrison said. “So as we work this year we’ll see what priorities the council has and see what they want to target first.”

Morrison said it is a big deal for East Tennessee to get focused support through this grant. Morrison said the city is looking forward to seeing the impact this funding can have for the communities that really need it.

“We think it’s a good thing,” Morrison said. “They’re struggling over there and a lot’s going on, so we’re glad they’re making that decision.”

Morrison said the city will look for possible avenues of external funding but the main focus will be on what Algood can pay for itself.