KCDC's Montgomery Village Has A New Playground
July 29, 2026

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), the City of Knoxville, Knox County and playspace nonprofit KABOOM! gather with partners and volunteers July 29, 2026, to unveil a children-designed, community-built playground in Montgomery Village. Participants in the ribbon-cutting ceremony are, from left, Ben Bentley, KCDC executive director and CEO; Star Starks, City of Knoxville; Bicki Rudd, KABOOM!; Myrion Huley; Khamari Long, Deon Starks, Davaya Barefield, Xavier Hunt and Kevin Ransom of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley; Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon; Knoxville City Council member Karyn Adams; and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel. Image courtesy of KCDC

KNOXVILLE - Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), the City of Knoxville, Knox County and playspace nonprofit KABOOM! gathered with partners and volunteers July 29 to unveil a children-designed, community-built playground in Montgomery Village.

Approximately 150 volunteers joined forces to build the playground in roughly six hours at Community Unity Park in South Knoxville.

“This playspace is a great addition for Montgomery Village and offers the opportunity for children and families to enjoy physical activity and outdoor play together in their own neighborhood,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “The community effort is a great example of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared goal.”

The playground is designed for children ages 5-12 and features two slides, two group swings, ladders and monkey bars, an adaptive merry-go-round and a Cozy Cocoon chair that offers sensory escape. Volunteers also installed an adjacent fitness area for adults with chin-up bars, parallel bars and a balance beam. An ADA-accessible path provides enhanced access. Volunteers also constructed benches and a shade structure to allow supervising adults to relax out of the sun.

The new playspace is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity and ensure all children, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the numerous physical, social and mental health benefits of play.

“Playgrounds are an iconic part of childhood, where kids build confidence, connection, and memories that last a lifetime,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “As KABOOM! celebrates 30 years of protecting childhood through play, we’re proud to partner with KCDC, the City of Knoxville, Knox County and the community to bring this new playspace to life. This project reflects the power of communities and partners working together to create joyful, welcoming spaces where kids feel valued and belong. Especially in today’s challenging environment for children, it’s more important than ever that we come together to ensure every kid has access to safe, inspiring places to play and grow.”

Neighborhood children and adults helped conceive the playspace, sharing drawings and desires in community design sessions held in June. Those ideas were integrated into designs for the playspace, fitness area and side projects.

“This new playground shows the power of partnerships in strengthening community trust,” Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said. “As part of the City’s Project TLC, we listened to Montgomery Village families and heard they wanted safer spaces to gather and play. I’m grateful for KCDC and KABOOM! and everyone who volunteered to make this new playground possible.”

KABOOM! supported the playground through its initiative to expand access to safe play spaces where children live and learn. Additional funding comes from the City of Knoxville and Knox County, each of which contributed $100,000.

“We know children need exercise and dynamic play to thrive,” Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said. “This new playground is a great way to encourage children to get off screens and get outside together.”

Additional support was provided by Chick-Fil-A, Five Star, Food City, Git-R-Gone, Ingles, Real Good Kitchen and Salsarita's. KCDC coordinated community support and contributions to make the playground build a reality.

The new playground is adjacent to Community Unity Greenway located at 4530 Joe Lewis Road.