Progress 2025: Elizabethton Park and Recreation Director David Nanney
Published 2:39 pm Sunday, March 23, 2025
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Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Director David Nanney
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Digging out and digging in
By Lynn J. Richardson
When Hurricane Helene came crashing into Elizabethton, there was no time to think about what damage the city’s parks and recreation facilities would incur, said Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Director David Nanney.
“When that floodwater came bursting through our city and county, the first thing on our minds was the people,” Nanney said. “The people who were devastated, without water, power, and many basic needs — some with no home to go back to — they were our first priority.”
Nanney, his staff, and community members quickly set up a donation and distribution center at the Mill Street Recreation Center — the Parks and Recreation’s headquarters at the time.
“We worked many hours a day for the first two weeks operating the first hub, accepting donations of water, canned foods, toiletries, cleaning supplies, baby food, diapers, flashlights, propane heaters, cook stoves, blankets, and seeing that those donations got to the locations where they were needed most.”
Then, after a tough two weeks, the operation of the distribution center was moved to Bristol Motor Speedway.
“At that point, we turned our attention to our flood-damaged parks,” Nanney said.
He found the procedure of assessing the damage “far from easy.”
“The process certainly had its obstacles,” Nanney said. “We first began to gather data for insurance claims — a long and tedious process. We worked slowly and deliberately on every step of this process to ensure that we had covered everything possible.”
Then, once all of the insurance filings were complete, they began the FEMA process.
“Record keeping for FEMA is an extremely detailed and tedious process,” Nanney said. “We have collected a lot of data, including many pictures, in the hope of being able to be reimbursed for damage caused by the flooding. We are working carefully so that we don’t make mistakes. It’s our goal to maximize what we can recoup so that we can reinvest back in our park system.”
Elizabethton’s Cat Island Park was the hardest hit, with the majority of the park’s features a total loss. “We lost all three pavilions, all playground equipment, picnic tables, benches, walking paths, and a good amount of fencing throughout the park,” Nanney said.
“The Parks and Recreation staff is working to remove all the damaged debris and fill the holes left behind when the water ripped through the park. We plan to clear everything from the tennis courts to the flood wall by the river and sow it in grass for now. Once we have eliminated any hazards from the park, we will open the Linear Trail from the park to Eastside again.”
Parks and Rec is approaching the recovery in stages. Phase One of restoring Cat Island Park is reestablishing the softball fields, which is a joint effort with Parks and Recreation, Boyd Sports, and the Elizabethton-Carter County Baseball and Softball Association. Work began on January 27.
“This project will restore and enhance the Cat Island softball fields, ensuring that athletes and families can continue to enjoy the fields this season and for years to come,” Nanney said. “This endeavor is a testament to the dedication of the local community, as well as to the support of several generous partners. We are very thankful for the following businesses for their invaluable support: Lowe’s of Elizabethton, Big John’s Closeouts, Farm Supply, Stowers Equipment, Hilton Recycling, Ingles, and Bojangles. These local partners have helped us ensure that the renovation can move forward smoothly and efficiently. Our goal is to have the fields up and running in time for the youth softball season.”
Phase Two will be the continued work of removing damaged materials and debris from Cat Island Park. Once that is completed, the Parks and Recreation Department can look ahead to ways to not only restore but improve the popular park.
That leads to Phase Three.
“We have requested and received a proposal for a Master Plan from McGill and Associates. This plan will result in meetings with city staff reviewing and refining the proposed scope of services. At this time, we will confirm project goals and deliverables and reach a consensus on a project schedule,” Nanney explained.
Based on input from city staff, site characteristics, and general park program, McGill facilitated a one-day Design Charrette with the public to gather input. That meeting was held at the Tetrick Center in the Pine Room on Friday, February 14.
“Based on this input, McGill will develop Conceptual Plans for the renovation of the park with the primary goal of a completed vision for the park,” Nanney added. “The Conceptual Plan will provide a layout including existing facilities to remain as well as the location of proposed facilities and amenities.”
The added expense to restore and improve Cat Island requires additional funding, and Nanney says he is grateful for the $100,000 from Carter County to assist with that project.
“That funding came from a $1,000,000 donation to Carter County for Helene flood damage by the Boyd Foundation,” Nanney said. “Our staff has also contacted TDEC’s Office of Outdoor Recreation about grant funding for this project. We are very pleased to pursue these grants. We see this as a very positive development, and we are reviewing our options with the LPRF and the LWCF grants. We have submitted a letter of intent to apply for these grants. The letter of intent does not bind the city in any way but places us in the pool to apply for grant funding.”
If awarded the funding needed, Nanney says he believes the City will be in the position to “possibly turn the negative situation in our park system into a very positive outcome in the park improvements we will propose.”
As the storm raged, City of Elizabethton residents also held their collective breaths, fearing the possible loss of the town’s historic covered bridge. The floodwaters did reach Covered Bridge Park, Nanney said, but fortunately did not do serious damage at that park.
“We had a layer of mud over much of the concrete sidewalks,” Nanney said. “We also lost a few trees during the storm and debris brought in by the floodwaters. We have since cleaned up the damage and debris.”
“Covered Bridge Park is still a very important priority, and we are still working on it as well,” he added, saying he is looking ahead to a better-than-ever version of the popular park.
“McGill & Associates has been working and will continue to work on a Master Plan for this park. We hope to have a plan to present soon, but we have been forced to refocus on some of our priorities due to the Helene flooding and damage at Cat Island and Edwards Island.”
In the midst of all the recovery efforts, the Parks and Recreation Department was already in the process of relocating to their new headquarters in the former Franklin Fitness Center building at 1509 W Elk Avenue, making the Tetrick Community Center the new home of Elizabethton Parks and Recreation staff offices. “We are so proud to be in our new home,” Nanney said. “We had completely outgrown our former location. We are excited for the opportunities that we see in the Tetrick Center.” Those opportunities include offering the community an indoor walking track, a 220-foot loop, where about 24 laps equal 1 mile, open to the public during normal business hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Meeting space is also available in the Pine Room, and reservations are now being accepted.
“We are in the process of painting and renovating areas in the lower level,” Nanney added. “Look for more information in the coming months about community events, fitness classes, and other educational classes that we will be announcing soon.”
Looking farther ahead, Nanney also announced a larger plan for an addition to the building that would house two basketball courts, along with other amenities. The project’s timeline is 3-5 years.
For more details, follow Elizabethton Parks and Recreation on Facebook or visit the website at City of Elizabethton, Tennessee, or call 423-547-6441.
