Page 22 - JanFeb2022 Vol 39 No 6

BC HEALTHY PLACES get in a workout while watching the kids, to do,” she said.
The BlueCross Healthy Place at
from page 20 she said. “Nobody gets bored.” Farragut Town Hall is more than just a
A unique aspect of the BlueCross
center. That need evaporated in January Healthy Place is the inclusion of musical place to have fun. It’s also a research site.
2020, when the town cut the ribbon on instruments. Drums, metallophones and The play space is part of the PlayCore
a community center located in a former tall contrabass chimes allow children of National Demonstration Site Network.
church building. all abilities to express creativity while Demonstration sites have signage that
The parcel behind Town Hall provided playing. encourages park users to complete a short
plenty of room for the play space, as Matthew Coker, dad of three and a survey to record who is using the park
well as a large, flat area for kids to run musician, chatted about the instruments and how they are using it. By scanning
and play ball behind the playground. while swinging with his daughter, a QR code on the sign, park users can
A ring of trees around the property Sage. “Those xylophones have a major complete the survey at their convenience.
provides a peaceful, insulated area for pentatonic scale and a minor pentatonic Organizations with a demonstration
families to relax and recreate. There is scale. They’re pretty sophisticated,” he site have the ability to share data and
ample parking, and public restrooms said. outcomes to further promote wellness in
are available inside Town Hall during According to the PlayCore website, their communities.
business hours. playing music in an outdoor environment The kids running around the
Sarah Toliver brought her four children has physical, emotional, social, and playground and open space behind
to the BlueCross Healthy Place on cognitive benefits for people of all ages the playground aren’t thinking about
this warm, breezy day. RuthAnne, her and abilities. That dovetails nicely with research. They’re just thinking about
8-year-old, was quick to chime in with a the goals of the Farragut Parks and Rec being out of school and having fun. Hina
comment on the new play space. staff, according to Parks and Athletics Patel of East Knoxville brings her two
“It’s a very, very fun park,” she said with Coordinator Lauren Cox. daughters to Farragut twice a week for
a grin. “We want to offer facilities and tutoring. They became regular Healthy
Sarah is a fan, too. With its mix of programs that encourage everyone to Space users after learning about the
amenities, the park offers fun and fitness move around and have fun. This park is new playground on social media. She
opportunities for all four children – ages amazing because it allows kids of different monitors the girls from a comfortable
2, 5, 8 and 10 – as well as parents. The ages and abilities to interact with each picnic table under the pavilion.
younger kids enjoy the playground, while other in new ways. It also encourages “They love the merry-go-round, they
her oldest loves playing ball in the open parents and children to play together, love the sounds, they love the running,”
space. The fitness station allows adults to which is something we sometimes forget she said. “They just love it.”

22 TPW January/February 2022