original seymour community park people concerned

The Seymour Community Park, which has struggled under various leadership for the past twenty years, is concerned that the few dollars they receive each year from Sevier County will vanish now that the deed to the 14 acres behind Smoky Crossings has been accepted by the county, according to Jim Green. The Seymour Park located on Community Park Road in Seymour is not run by AYSO. It is controlled, owned and operated by the Seymour Community Citizens Association. Kevin Abrams is the Chairman and Jim Green is the Vice Chairman. They both donated their time almost daily to the welfare of the park. Sevier County budgets $3,500 per year which covers the basic utilities at the park according to Green. “I’ve been everywhere to get a grant with no luck because we (Seymour) is not incorporated,” stated Green. “If the county had title to the park, we could get all kinds of grants.” Green wonders how the county can accept the 14-acres behind Smoky Crossing for a park, when the county hasn’t really support the existing 14-acre park. Access could be another one of the problems that the Seymour Community Park has had in raising awareness. Many Seymour residents are not aware there is or has been a community park in Seymour. The park, used almost exclusively for soccer has been in existence for many years. It was land donated to the Seymour Community Citizens Association. The association has changed leadership and board several times since its inception. There have been prominent board members from WBIR TV to successful business owners. “The park has just never taken off,” stated a former board member. “A lot had to do with the leadership and the fact that we never got any support from the county. It seems Seymour is only important to the county during elections.” If that is the case, the new proposed park behind Smoky Crossing could face similar concerns.