The presenter described nonlethal aversive methods used in park visitor areas—paintball guns, firecrackers and brief tasings—and explained how those measures aim to reinstate fear and reduce food-conditioned behavior in bears.

A McGill consultant gave an overview of the Parks & Recreation master plan, highlighting Oak Ridge’s above‑average park acreage and trail system, public input themes (centralize athletics, more events, facility upgrades) and a capital list aligned to state/federal grant priorities; formal adoption is planned for the November council meeting.

Friends of Mill Ridge Park said a U.S. Department of Interior grant of $2,000,000, plus private contributions, will fund Phase 2 to expand Mill Ridge into a family-farm park with a renovated farmhouse, pond, pavilion and year-round programming.

The board authorized Mayor to sign a $1,760,805 contract with Victor Hall Construction to complete phase two of the Arlington Tennis Facility expansion — adding 12 pickleball courts, two tennis courts, parking expansion and alternates for a pavilion and maintenance building.

The Department of Environment and Conservation asked the commission to approve selecting a designer to reconstruct David Crockett Birthplace State Park; the department said the general assembly appropriated over $49M and insurance proceeds add about $12M toward reconstruction.

Finance staff reported year-to-date revenue growth through May and said the department reached its first "million-dollar revenue-producing facility" this fiscal year. Nate also said Veterans Park is ahead of schedule and that the department has paused the master plan implementation until new Sportscom leadership is in place.

The board approved USA Preps and USSSA as tournament directors for events to be scheduled with city staff, noting the economic impact of large summer tournaments and that approvals do not guarantee specific dates.

The Hendersonville Parks Board voted June 22 to recommend adoption of a five-year parks master plan update after a presentation highlighting community input (about 1,500 survey responses), benchmark comparisons, and staffing and funding constraints; the plan now moves to the Public Works Committee and then to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Operations staff recommended transferring the revitalized Stokes Field at New Providence Middle School to Montgomery County Parks and Recreation while retaining school priority use; they also asked the board to grant utility easements for Rossview property for a 24-inch water main with proposed compensation. Board members and a county commissioner pressed for clarity about fees, access, reversionary language and construction scheduling.

The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation approved the Plan to Play 2026 master plan update on June 2, 2026, endorsing a three‑tier funding approach that prioritizes $127 million in deferred maintenance needs and outlines a $188.8 million tier‑one capital package over five years.

At a Board of Parks and Recreation meeting, a presenter summarized Plan to Play 2026, the update to the 2017 countywide parks and greenways master plan, and outlined a tiered five-year action plan that prioritizes roughly $127 million in deferred maintenance and a Tier‑1 capital package of about $188.8 million.

The finance committee recommended and the board approved three resolutions: raising authorized funding for the First Horizon Park condition assessment from $35,000 to $145,000, authorizing a scoreboard/digital-signage contract with Uber Displays, and amending the Coming Management agreement to expand scope for stadium financial oversight. A board member recorded an abstention on the scoreboard item citing a conflict of interest.

At a May 7, 2026 public meeting, project designers and NDOT staff presented a traffic-calming concept for the Aklland Park segment of the Athena Bikeways, proposing speed cushions, bulbouts, diverters and a small traffic circle to address cut-through traffic and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety; residents pressed for sidewalks and funding clarity.

Chairman Bailey told the committee SB 354 authorizes the Department of Environment and Conservation, with State Building Commission approval, to enter into agreements for private development, redevelopment and operation of facilities at Cumberland Mountain State Park; the committee adopted the amendment and voted the bill to finance with a note that SBC approval will be required later.

On an 8-0 vote the Department and Agency Subcommittee advanced House Bill 0338, sponsored by Chairman Crawford, which authorizes the TDEC commissioner to enter agreements with private entities for development, construction and operation of facilities and to oversee construction projects at Cumberland Mountain State Park; an amendment (016756) was added.

Family members of Dr. Alyssa Lockett and sponsor Sen. Yarbrough urged passage of the Alyssa Lockett Safety Act to require park and greenway safety planning after Lockett’s murder; the committee voted unanimously to send the bill to finance.

Director Odom reported that tree damage from a recent ice storm has forced temporary closures of several golf courses and community center gyms, described staffing shortfalls (953 of 1,395 positions filled) and said FY26 operating budget requests focus on operational needs including additional tree crews and skilled trades.

The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation approved several consent and grant items — including grant increases for Watkins Park and Centennial Park, a monument ownership transfer, grant amendments and in‑kind gifts — and deferred officer nominations and a conservation easement to committee review.

Jane McLeod, president of Cheekwood, told the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation that construction documents are complete for a $35 million parking pavilion and welcome plaza; Cheekwood has a Truist loan commitment expected to close mid‑March and aims to open the pavilion ahead of the 2027 holiday lights season.

TDEC officials told the Finance, Ways and Means Committee that they are reallocating small amounts of ARPA water/wastewater funds returned by local grantees to other Tennessee projects, and outlined state parks expansions and self‑funded staffing requests tied to hospitality revenues.

Consolidated maintenance reported onboarding a new CAL work-order system and the CPMS capital tracking system, completing 7,213 work orders since June, raising the department PCI from 64 to 77, and spending roughly $700,000 to repair the Stones River Greenway boardwalk.

Cindy Harrison reported progress on several greenway projects and said Metro was awarded $11,300,000 from the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Program to fund the Opry Mills Connector Greenway; design and permitting are advancing on other greenways and several public-private partnerships are underway.

The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved three items: an inaugural MLK Jr. indoor pickleball tournament at Patterson Park, a new rental policy and fee for the new turf baseball field on Old Fort (including limits on repeat rentals and a $120 hourly rental fee), and a buy-one-get-one membership promotion. The commission also approved

Middle Tennessee State University researchers described a multi-year teaching collaboration with Patterson Park Community Center that embeds students in program planning for youth and a separate research pilot using virtual reality (VR) to support healthy aging among older adults. Commissioners praised the partnership and offered to supply a letter