$1.8 million investment will add new amenities to popular community space
BEAN STATION, Tenn. — Representatives from the Town of Bean Station and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recently broke ground on the BlueCross Healthy Place at Harris Court Park.
Harris Court is a 2-acre municipal park located off Main Street in Bean Station. The town applied for BlueCross Healthy Place funding in the hopes of bringing additional amenities and encouraging community enrichment in the space, which is a gathering spot for residents of all ages and abilities.
BlueCross Healthy Places are designed to strengthen communities across Tennessee by providing neighbors with places for connection and healthy activity.
The BlueCross Foundation is providing $1.5 million for the project build and an additional $300,000 for a maintenance fund, bringing the total investment to $1.8 million.
“The BlueCross Healthy Place at Harris Court Park is a huge asset to the Town of Bean Station and all of Grainger County,” said Bean Station Mayor Ben Waller. “We’re excited to mark the beginning of a new chapter for this space and to see our community members using it for years to come.”
Chelsea Johnson, director of the BlueCross Foundation, added, “Harris Court Park is a popular and valuable recreational spot for the residents of Bean Station, and we look forward to bringing in new features that will encourage even more people in the area to visit the space.”
Features in the new space will include:
- Fully accessible, ramped play area
- Splash pad
- Fitness area
- Swing set
- Benches and bike racks
The play area will be constructed with accessible poured-in-place surfacing for visitors of all abilities.
To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $36.6 million in BlueCross Healthy Place projects across the state. There are 19 projects open statewide with more on the way.
The BlueCross Foundation will accept proposals for 2023 funding throughout the month of August 2023.
For more on the BlueCross Healthy Place program, see BlueCrossHealthyPlaces.com.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 75 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s news center at bcbstnews.com.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. It has awarded $120 million in grants since 2005. The foundation provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.