PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The Leisure Services Department provides a variety of programs and services, which were established to enhance the quality of life and increase community involvement for Farragut's citizens. The Leisure Services staff also serves as staff support for the Arts Council, Beautification Committee, Folklife Museum Committee, Leisure Services Advisory Board, Parks and Athletics Council and  other ad-hoc committees.  Services provided by the staff include:

Citizen Involvement/Volunteer Coordination - The Leisure Services staff coordinates the FUN Volunteer Program, appointments to citizen committees, Adopt a Mile Program, Adopt a Greenway Program and Eagle Scout/Gold Award projects.  More information about these programs is available in the Citizen Involvement and Volunteer Opportunities section of this publication.

Citizen Request Program - The Town offers Farragut citizens a unique program that encourages suggestions or complaints about all Town services, from streets to parks.  After a request has been filed by a citizen (by mail, e-mail, phone or in person), it is forwarded to the appropriate department for action, and the citizen will receive an initial letter within 72 hours with a request number for future reference. After review by the appropriate department, citizens receive a final letter explaining what action will be or has been taken. The Town is unable to take anonymous requests, and all information about a request is public record.

Public Relations/Community Information - The Town keeps residents well informed about meetings, programs, events and services through several formats.  Meeting agendas and specific information about Town programs and events are posted on the Town=s website (www.townoffarragut.org), published in the farragutpress (Thursdays) and can be viewed on the Town=s government access channel (Charter cable channel 3).  Also available on the Town's access channel are live broadcasts of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Municipal Planning Commission meetings on most Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Check the 2008 Meeting Schedule section of this publication for more information.

The Town also provides information about special events and the Farragut Folklife Museum to local tourism/events calendars and publications.  The Farragut Sports Infoline (966-2420) is updated during the week at 3 p.m. and at 8:30 a.m. on weekends from March to November with playing field conditions, league schedules and league results.  The Sports Infoline is also updated year-round about the status of special events during inclement weather and information about future league registrations.

Approximately 9,000 copies of the Farragut Annual Report are distributed to every Farragut residence in February of each year. This publication is also distributed by the Farragut/West Knox Chamber of Commerce, local realty agencies and other businesses to prospective residents and businesses.   A quarterly newsletter, Talk of the Town, is distributed to over 95 % of Farragut homes through the farragutpress.

The Leisure Services Department also maintains information about local homeowners= groups, civic organizations and public utilities important to Farragut residents.  Scout troops, schools and community organizations can also arrange government lectures and tours of the Farragut Folklife Museum through the Leisure Services Department.

Parks and Recreation - The Town currently has three established parks and a fourth park, located on McFee Road, is currently under construction and will be open in late 2008.  This provides one park in each of the four quadrants of the Town.  The Town also has several miles of a greenway system for walking or biking.  More information about these facilities is available in this publication under Parks, Greenways and Facilities.

Part time park assistants provide basic maintenance (supplementing the work done by the Public Works Department) at each of the Town's parks and along the greenways.

Special events for children and adults plus quarterly classes, programs and workshops are all offered by the Town of Farragut.  The Town also offers a variety of adult athletic leagues and tournaments and works in conjunction with many youth sports associations to offer field space and other assistance. More information about these programs and information about Town-owned rental facilities are highlighted under the Events, Athletics and Folklife Museum and the Parks, Greenways and Facilities sections of this publication.  Contact information for youth leagues is available in the Community Services Directory of this publication under the subheading Youth Sports.

Additional and more precise information about parks, athletics, classes and events throughout the year may be found in the quarterly newsletter, Talk of the Town, distributed in the farragutpress  prior to the start or at the beginning of each quarter, in the local press, on the government access channel (Charter cable channel 3) and on the Town=s website (www.townoffarragut.org).

LEISURE SERVICES STAFF