Booker T. Park supporters seek $500,000 for playground, monument

Booker T. Washington

A local nonprofit wants to raise $500,000 within the next year to build a new playground, install exercise equipment and build a monument to the namesake for Booker T. Washington State Park.

The monument will be at the end of a two-mile path that includes three interpretive kiosks that will tell the history of Washington, the former slave who became an adviser to U.S. presidents and the most famous black man in the country between 1895 and 1915.

The Friends of the Park group, established in 2016, wants to have the kiosks and monument in the park by April 2018, marking April 5, 1856, when Washington was born.

Park manager Levan Gardner recently shared his vision with more than two dozen elected officials and nonprofit representatives who recently visited the park.

"The bottom line is I want to continue Booker T. Washington's legacy of education," said Gardner.

Washington used education to propel America forward. Gardner said he wants to use Washington's teachings to do the same for his city.

Washington taught his students to educate their heads, hearts and hands, said Gardner.

"If you can educate your hands to build a house, somebody is going to want you," he said.

He wants to inform potential partners of the educational programs the park already has and to raise funds for park additions.

Most of the park's 830,000 annual visitors come to its lake or swimming pool. Few people know the park offers canoe rides for groups of 10 or more. Park staff ask for a donation, but there is no charge for groups to use the canoes.

Youth groups also can make arrangements with park staff to see birds of prey up close or have the birds come to their schools or churches.

The park keeps animals that have been nursed back to health after injury but can't be returned to the wild. There's also a traveling collection of animal furs such as possum, raccoon and deer used to educate groups about the park's wildlife. And there's training about environmental conservation, various insects and wetlands.

"We started the educational part because we thought we might trigger someone to be our next botanist," said Gardner.

Friends of the Park board member Dr. Fannie Hewlett said she hopes the park's programs lead youth to "Healthy Living, Healthy Choices and Healthy Lifestyles," she said citing a park curriculum.

Gardner said Friends of the Park will apply to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee for grant funding for the playground.

BlueCross has partnered with national nonprofit KaBoom to sponsor two local parks ranging in price from $100,000 to $180,000 in Chattanooga.

Mary Danielson, BlueCross BlueShield spokeswoman, said the nonprofit insurer seeks to invest in youth.

"We've been building playgrounds across the state. It's part of our endeavor to engage youth in physical activity throughout the year, she said.

Park supporters also will apply for grant funding for exercise equipment.

Gardner estimates the Booker T. Washington Monument, excluding the kiosk, will cost about $50,000.

Knowledge of Washington is important because he paved the way for education and became someone to emulate, said Sandra Affare, Friends of the Park vice president.

"Many of us don't know the legacy of Booker T. Washington. Many of us don't know what the "T" stands for," she said. "But as an African American, to understand our legacy and history is to know those who came before us."