BlueCross employee Michelle Harris and her son, Spencer, live in Dayton, Tenn. and love visiting Pendergrass Park, their local park, so he can play and spend time with other kids.
Michelle, who has been at BlueCross for more than 10 years, works in the BlueCare division, coordinating care facility placements for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex care needs.
Spencer is 9 years old and was born 7 weeks early, weighing just over 4 pounds. He spent several days in the NICU after birth, learning to breathe and swallow. At age 5, he was diagnosed with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which both affect how he interacts with his environment and the people around him.
Michelle describes her son as “an amazing child with superpowers that give him an unlimited amount of energy, a mind full of questions and an imagination that is spellbinding.”
A new chapter for Spencer’s place to play
Since he was old enough, Michelle has brought Spencer to Pendergrass Park when he needs to burn off some extra energy.
While they both loved the park, she recognized the popular space could use an upgrade.
“The park began showing its age a few years ago,” she says. “Most of the equipment was old, and it had uneven terrain that wasn’t accessible for children with mobility concerns.”
In 2023, Michelle and the rest of Dayton’s residents learned that Pendergrass Park would become a BlueCross Healthy Place. The news meant some much-needed upgrades to the popular space and generated excitement for the community. But for Spencer, it was hard to understand why his favorite park would be closed for a while.
“Spencer was devastated when Pendergrass Park shut down for the renovations,” Michelle says. “We had to visit regularly so he could see the construction progress. Of course, it moved too slowly for him,” she laughs.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation invested $4.8 million in the BlueCross Healthy Place at Pendergrass Park , which opened in the spring. The revitalized space features many upgrades for the community to enjoy, including:
- Ramped play areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12
- Splash pad
- Fitness area
- Pavilions
- Benches
- Restrooms
The play areas were constructed using accessible, poured-in-place surfacing for children who use mobility devices. The space also features paved sidewalks, making it easier for all visitors to navigate.
Celebrating the new Pendergrass Park
For Michelle, it was important that Spencer take part in the park’s grand opening celebration. She felt allowing him to experience the excitement of the day and see the new space would help him process the positive change and be excited about visiting his favorite place to play again.
“I wanted Spencer to attend the grand opening so he could see firsthand how his park had transformed into a new and fun place to explore,” she notes.
In April, Michelle and Spencer joined other Dayton residents and representatives from BlueCross to officially open the BlueCross Healthy Place at Pendergrass Park.
The space was a hit with Spencer, and he spent the time playing and exploring, just like Michelle had hoped.
“He was in awe of all the play areas and was like a kid in a candy store—and he had the energy to prove it,” she laughs. “He had to experience it all right then!”
His favorite features were the merry-go-round and the rope pyramid, which he scaled to the top.
Michelle appreciates that the paved walking path and additional seating make it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children while they’re enjoying the space.
More fun in store
For Michelle and Spencer, the grand opening celebration was just the beginning. They’ve continued to visit their local BlueCross Healthy Place regularly, especially over the summer when school was out and Spencer got to enjoy the splash pad in the Tennessee heat. More visits are planned, maybe after the winter cold subsides.
“As a BlueCross employee, I’m proud to see how our foundation invests in spaces that foster community pride and encourage residents to meet one another and live active, healthy lives,” she says.
To date, there are 25 BlueCross Healthy Place projects completed or in progress across the state. To learn more about the program, visit BlueCrossHealthyPlaces.com.
Amanda joined the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee corporate communications team in 2017. Born and raised in Chattanooga, she has a decade of experience in writing for print and the web, as well as digital marketing.