Hardin Valley Community Park will shut its gates to the public on September 28, kicking off a 13-month construction project that will leave one of West Knox County's busiest suburbs without its main outdoor gathering space until winter 2027. Knox County Parks and Recreation announced the closure of the park at 12734 Hickory Creek Road as crews prepare to build a new community building on the site.
The project, reported by WVLT, calls for a modern community building that will serve as a dedicated public gathering hub for the area, along with a newly constructed entrance and an expanded parking lot. The plans also include dedicated pedestrian access connecting directly to the park's existing inclusive playground, according to the station's report. Knox County Parks and Recreation will manage the new facility once it opens, while general contractor Johnson & Galyon Construction has been tapped to complete the build.
A Century-Old Builder Takes On the Job
Johnson & Galyon Construction was founded in Knoxville in 1914 and has operated locally for 112 years, having previously built major regional landmarks and most area hospitals, per the company's own background. In June 2024, Knoxville wholesale distributor The H.T. Hackney Co. acquired the firm as a wholly-owned subsidiary while keeping its local headquarters and executive leadership intact, as reported by the Knoxville Chamber. Overseeing project management for the Hardin Valley build is PBA Property Development, part of the Public Building Authority, which manages more than 2 million square feet of public facilities across Knoxville and Knox County.
Knox County Commissioner Terry Hill was among the officials championing the new facility. Hill said the project represents what years of advocacy can accomplish when prioritizing the future of the communities served, and added that the new community building will provide a central hub for residents to gather, connect, and participate in programs and events. Hill was re-elected to her second commission term in August 2024.
Fastest-Growing Corner of Knox County
The closure lands in a corridor that has transformed dramatically over the past two decades. Hardin Valley has seen heavy residential subdivision development. More recent Knoxville-Knox County Planning data shows Hardin Valley has maintained an average annual population growth rate of 3.9% over nearly three decades.
That growth has also brought continued residential development.
Rising Demand
The Hardin Valley project is a public-infrastructure effort in an area experiencing continued development.
The park overhaul comes as the area continues to grow.
For now, residents in the area will have to wait more than a year to get their community park back. When it reopens in winter 2027, it will come with a rebuilt entrance, expanded parking, and a new community building meant to give Hardin Valley the kind of central gathering space its population boom has long outpaced.
