Freedom Playground will become a reality. The Christy-Houston Foundation announced approval of a grant in the amount of $250,000 last week, an amount that pushed the first phase of the capital campaign to $700,000 and will allow construction to begin immediately.

Freedom Playground is an all-inclusive playground that will be built in Lee Victory Park, adjacent to the Captain Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial. The first phase of construction includes the playground and parking lot, totaling approximately $700,000. Phase two includes the construction of restroom facilities, bringing the total project cost to $1.2 million.

“The Town of Smyrna places emphasis on quality of life for our citizens, including providing recreational opportunities through a robust parks system,” explained Smyrna Town Manager Brian D. Hercules. “Freedom Playground will provide accessibility to all of our citizens, regardless of their abilities. We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Smyrna for their partnership and to the Christy-Houston Foundation for their belief in this project.”

Rotary Club of Smyrna’s President Amanda Johnstone has advocated for this project from the beginning. “Smyrna Rotarians have a long history of giving back to this community with the goal of making it a healthier, happier place to live,” noted Johnstone. “Freedom Playground is a reflection of this and aligns with the Town of Smyrna’s vision to provide meaningful recreational opportunities for all of its citizens. We are ecstatic to announce the completion of our capital campaign’s first phase as a result of the Christy-Houston Foundation’s investment in this project.”

“The Christy-Houston Foundation is pleased to support the construction of Freedom Playground,” shared Christy-Houston Foundation President Anne Davis. “Construction of this playground will enhance recreational accessibility for our community on the north end of Rutherford County. We look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.”