BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation investing in community gathering space focused on connection and healthy activity
MILAN, Tenn. — The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation (BlueCross Foundation) and the City of Milan have announced plans for the BlueCross Healthy Place at McKellar Park, a partnership designed to provide more opportunities for connection, outdoor recreation and physical activity for area residents of all ages and abilities.
The project will revitalize a popular community space and bring a variety of new amenities for residents to enjoy, including:
- Accessible play areas
- Challenge course
- 40-yard dash
- Children’s bicycle skills area
- Play pockets
- Community pavilions
“McKellar Park has been a gathering place for Milan residents for years,” said Dalya Qualls White, SVP and executive director of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with the city to transform this space into an area that will continue to bring people together and support the health and well-being of all area residents.”
Milan Mayor BW Beasley added, “For decades, the McKellar site was a place where our community’s youth learned and grew. Thanks to the BlueCross Healthy Place program, great history becomes a bright future, turning these historic grounds into a state-of-the-art park dedicated to the health, wellness and spirit of our entire city.”
There are currently 32 BlueCross Healthy Places open or in progress across Tennessee, creating a network of community spaces in communities large and small. To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested more than $90 million in projects statewide.
BlueCross Healthy Place projects are funded through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation’s endowment, not from the company’s current business operations. For more on the BlueCross Healthy Place program, see BlueCrossHealthyPlacesTN.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 80 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.