Sevierville’s Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony and reopening of City Park at 1005 Park Road for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, marking the end of a renovation project that closed off large sections of the park since Aug. 25, 2025.
Portions of the park — including five baseball and softball fields, some restrooms, and parking and trail areas — had been off-limits to the public since July 2025, according to The Mountain Press. The City of Sevierville also detailed the closures on its own City Park project page, which said closures began Aug. 25, 2025, and were expected to run through the end of an estimated 15-month project.
What Changed at the Ballfields
All five baseball and softball fields were completely rebuilt, with new artificial turf, drainage systems, fencing, dugouts and spectator seating added throughout, per the same report. New LED lighting was also installed on those fields, along with eight tennis and pickleball courts and four courts dedicated solely to pickleball.
The city’s project page had listed the west parking area, the greenway near the covered bridge, picnic shelters 1 and 2, and the Charles D. Blalock Blueway Landing among the sections slated to close during construction, alongside nearby concession and restroom buildings. Areas such as the east and pool parking lots, overflow parking, the tennis and pickleball courts, the Family Aquatic Center and picnic shelter 3 were expected to stay open with only minimal disruptions.
New Pavilion, Parking and Facilities
The park’s old concession stand and restroom facility was torn down and replaced with new construction, the station’s report said. A new pavilion was also built, with additional pathways added to connect it and the park’s existing pavilions for easier access. The parking area was redesigned as well, aimed at improving traffic flow and safety for visitors.
Parks and Recreation Director Patrick Oxley said he was confident the finished project would pay off for years to come. “I’m confident these improvements will provide many years of enjoyment,” Oxley said, per the same account.
A Price Tag That’s Moved Over Time
The reopening report describes the overall project as a $14.7 million undertaking. That figure differs from an earlier estimate in a prior Mountain Press report, which said the project had been budgeted at $9.75 million before being revised to an estimated $14,120,421; that earlier report also said the city expected construction to begin in summer 2025. The dossier does not explain the gap between the two figures, and neither account reconciles them.
That same earlier report detailed long-term cost considerations behind the turf choice at City Park, noting that a no-infill turf option carries a lifespan of more than 12 years, with eventual replacement estimated at $275,000 per field for the smaller fields and $580,000 per field for the larger ones.
