Tommy Schumpert Park

    Tommy Shumpert Park is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike in Knoxville, Tennessee. This 75-acre park is located in the heart of South Knoxville and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for people of all ages.

    The park features a variety of amenities, including a large playground, walking trails, a fishing pond, picnic shelters, and athletic fields. The playground is a favorite among children and features swings, slides, and climbing structures, As an exhausted parent, the playground is a good spot to take a minute to breathe while the children play.

    The concrete walking trails offer a scenic route through the park and are perfect for walkers, joggers, cyclists, or dog walkers. The fishing pond is stocked with fish, and visitors can enjoy catching and releasing fish while enjoying the peaceful surroundings. (Always check on state fishing laws).

    Strolling through the walking trails of Tommy Shumpert Park is one of my favorite pastimes due to the fond memories, the peaceful nature, and the various amenities for various needs. After having my dog for 8 years, he was euthanized in 2021 due to Lymphoma cancer.  It was one of his favorite parks to socialize with other dogs and play with his favorite ball. Since I have plenty of memories walking along the trails of the park, I love going there to be in peace and heal from grief. Altogether, it's a peaceful place to be present, reminisce on past memories, make new ones, and enjoy all the amenities. 

    Upon arriving past the gated entrance, I drive along the curvy concrete. Lucious green grass fields on one side of the road, athletic fields along one section, and a rock-filled parking lot pull-off spot at another section. The long curvy road led to a turn-around spot near the dog park surrounded by beautiful trees. I park my small fiat near the entrance to the dog park. Xavier (dog at the time) is excitedly barking in my ear; the boofs ringing loudly in my ear but I am overcome with excitement knowing how excited he is. I let him out of the vehicle to prance around on the rock-filled parking lot and we make our way to the dog park.

    In the dog park section, there are 2 gated areas: 1 fenced-in area for small dogs, and the other fenced-in area for larger dogs. We make our way past the large garbage bins, I unclasp his leash and off he goes. Romping around making other dog friends and getting out all the zoomies. After socialization, we take a mini stroll down to the small fish bond. 

    Walking down the dirt walking trail, our paws stop abruptly before entering the wooden dock with wood railing. I bend over to sit down on the edge of the deck, letting my feet dangle while we both sit to watch the small fountain in the middle of the pond. We overhear the water fountain splashing; each water drop dancing with each beat of their plop into the pond.  Our ears were accompanied by the sounds of barking in the distance, and our eyes darted around taking in the scenic view. After a few moments of rest, we get up and play on the large rocks in between the wet dirt underneath our feet, and the sloshing of the water on the edge. After a few moments of play, we make our way to the car to dry off with towels. After drying and laying down towels, we decided this was a perfect day to end the evening with a new exploration and a story for another day. 

[Author's Notes]

R.I.P. Xavier. Thank you for the wonderful life I got to share with you. This is for you.