Land that's currently home to Bower Field Park in far south Knox County will become shops and restaurants, and the park will get a new home down the street.
Thunder Mountain Properties has been working for years to turn land it owns that houses Bower Field Park - a playground with baseball and softball fields along Chapman Highway - into a commercial hub.
Developers donated a new parcel of land to Knox County to rebuild the park, and promised they won't build over the original Bower land until a new park is finished. But neighbors say the land isn't suitable for ball fields and there's no guarantee the county and developers will follow through. The county doesn't have a timeline or cost estimate for the new park.
"Please do not rely on an unvested promise," South Knox County Commissioner-elect Andy Fox urged the Knox County Commission Aug. 19.
Knox County Deputy Law Director Mike Moyers said developers can't go against their word because the county still has seven years on its lease for Bower Field.
Thunder Mountain Properties also got permission to build a residential community on land previously reserved for agriculture on nearby Evans Road. They can build up to five units on one acre of land, which is expected to bring 1,157 more vehicle trips every day. Neighbors worry that, combined with increased traffic from existing developments, is just too much for the infrastructure in the area.
After the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission gave its initial approval of changes July 11, the county commission gave its final approval in front of a packed crowd of residents holding "no rezone" and "save Bower Field" signs. If neighbors want to challenge their decision, they'll have to take it up with the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals. If they chose to challenge that decision, they'll have to go to chancery court.
Members of the planning commission approved the zoning changes because they're consistent with Advance Knox, according to their recommendation to county commissioners. The shopping center and planned homes are consistent with what's nearby, they said.
The neighbors disagree.
"This really is in the heart of our community. Having five units per acre ... isn't fitting with what's going on in our community," Dry Hollow resident Dawn Close said. "Our community wants to stay rural. There's way more of us than those two developers who aren't from our community."
Close operates the Save Bower Field Facebook page and has organized several demonstrations protesting developers' plans. The park has been there for decades and hosts a baseball and softball games for children ages 4-14.
South Knox County Commissioner Carson Dailey was supportive of the changes.
"This is what we need as far as the actual Advance Knox plan," he said to the anger of several constituents. "I have confidence that there will be a bigger, better Bower Field there. It's going to take years down the road to do this, but there will be baseball and softball played there."
Developers are required to submit a master plan to the commission and do traffic and light studies to identify necessary improvements and potential complications.
How did we get here?
Thunder Mountain Properties gave Knox County, via the nonprofit Legacy Parks Foundation, 107 acres of land for a new park. The county and the nonprofit will have to rebuild the playground and ballfields on the new site, though they have the remaining seven years of the county's lease for the transition.
Carole Evans, the executive director of Legacy Parks, told Knox News the county and nonprofit will take the next few years to determine the design, environmental factors and funding of the park. She estimated the park could cost between $15 million and $20 million.
Joe Mack, the senior director of the Knox County Parks and Recreation department, said his staff wants to consult with community members before producing a final estimate.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Shops and restaurants will replace recreation at Bower Field Park in South Knox County
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