Page 11 - Nov-Dec2022 Vol 40 No 5

2017, and once again, reflected a change staff members to handle the additional the town’s history.
in priorities. In 2020, when construction workload. Phase 3 is officially complete, with
bids came in, the Farragut Board of The Community Development projects still in the works at McFee
Mayor and Aldermen had to choose Department helped review the site Park. A new parking lot and trailhead,
which proposed amenities to keep. and landscape plans, as well as plans including a small pavilion, have been
Tennis/pickleball and basketball courts and inspections for built structures. budgeted and will be paid for with
were in; disc golf was out. The Engineering Department worked American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
“We have a limited amount of revenue, with contractors to bring the plans to funds. The town recently received a
so we had to consider our priorities,” said life. The size of the project, paired with $25,000 Dog Park Dash grant from the
Farragut Mayor Ron Williams. “You want issues related to the pandemic, made Boyd Foundation, earmarked for a dog
to please as many people as you can. We construction difficult. park at McFee Park in the next three
looked at how facilities were being used “A large-scale park project such as this years.
in our area, and pickleball and basketball takes coordination of the many different
are especially popular.” contractors that contributed, from the Wooded Areas May Stay
initial clearing and grading through Undeveloped…Intentionally
City Departments Worked Together the final landscaping and finishes,” said Stuhl said ten undeveloped acres
for Success Assistant Town Engineer Brannon Tupper, are left at the park, but because of the
Once the plan was chosen, staff worked who served as project manager. “It was topography, it’s unlikely that the mostly
together to make it happen. hard because the construction industry wooded area will be used for anything
“Engineering took the lead, but faces many challenges from the pandemic except trails. She thinks that’s a good
the project required all the other – supply chain issues, worker shortages thing. She’s a fan of leaving some park
departments,” Stuhl said. “We all see and fluctuations in pricing.” space undeveloped.
things differently.” “The project was fun but challenging. “Phase 3 of McFee Park is a great
The Parks & Recreation Department We are very pleased to successfully amenity for the Farragut community,” she
helped determine the project’s usability complete this project and provide a series said. “The Great Lawn is really important
and compatibility with sports users. The of great new amenities to the residents of because there’s such limited open
Public Works Department was responsible Farragut,” Tupper said. space in our parks, which are generally
for determining what would be required developed with a focus on facilities and
for maintenance of the large site. Largest Capital Improvement Project dedicated areas.”
Public Works Director Bud McKelvey in Farragut’s History In spite of the challenges of
knew it would be challenging to find the The Administration Department maintaining additional acreage,
manpower to cut, weed eat and blow the managed funds for the project. The McKelvey agrees that McFee Park is a
grass on the Great Lawn, care for 260 final cost of Phase 3 improvements was major asset to the community.
trees and maintain 87 zones of irrigation. approximately $8 million, making it the “It’s a beautiful facility. As it matures, it
He ultimately needed two full-time largest capital improvement project in will just get prettier.”

Above right: The six-acre Great Lawn at McFee Park provides much needed open space. Inset: Four tennis courts that double as eight pickleball courts and a
basketball court are popular amenities at Farragut’s McFee Park.

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