“More incredible news for Beaver Creek,” shouted Charlie Austin. “Thank you to Mr. Bill Weigel for all of your support for the Knox County Water Trail on Beaver Creek.”
Austin is president of the Beaver Creek Kayak Club, which sponsors the annual Flotilla on the creek.
“Beaver Creek is becoming a ‘destination visit’ for East Tennessee,” Austin said, following the annual luncheon to support Legacy Parks Foundation, held this year at Holston River Farm overlooking downtown Knoxville.
“1,000+ people celebrated Mr. Bill Weigel and his very generous donation of 20 acres at Clinton Highway and Beaver Creek to be developed into a new park for the Powell community and another boat launch on the Beaver Creek Water Trail.”
The land lies along Beaver Creek west of Clinton Highway near the new Weigel’s store. It was used as a temporary take-out for the first Flotilla.
The newest-to-be Powell park – concept drawing by the East TN Community Design Center.
Choose to be a climber!
Kelly Headden, executive VP and chief operating officer at BarberMcMurry Architects, posted a summary of the motivational talk by Erik Weihenmayer.
Kelly Headden
He wrote: “Designers from BarberMcMurry Architects had the privilege today of attending the Legacy Parks Foundation annual luncheon. The speaker was Erik Weihenmayer.
“Erik has been blind since a middle school illness took his eyesight but his ‘vision’ for life is exemplary. He is one of only 135 or so people known to have summited the highest peak on each of earth’s continents. … He has also navigated all 277 miles of the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon in a single’s kayak. Great feats for any of us, an extraordinary feat for someone with obstacles.
“He shared with us that there are three types of people: Quitters, Campers and Climbers.
“Quitters are obvious so let’s ignore them. Many of the rest of us are content to stop short of spectacular (campers) due to some type of obstacle or barrier. There’s always something each of us can do to get through, around or over these obstacles and realize our full potential (climbers).
“He has founded no barriers because he’s realized life is better when you find ways to bring others along with you. His hope for us all is that we collaborate, trust and dream together (regardless of ethnicity, religion, politics or socioeconomic backgrounds) to do something extraordinary with others.
“Choose to be a climber!”
Weihenmayer writes on his website:
Erik Weihenmayer
“Shortly after going blind, I received a newsletter in Braille about a group taking blind kids rock climbing. I thought to myself, who would be crazy enough to take a blind kid rock climbing?
“So, I signed up!
“Although there was a lot of flailing and struggle in those early days, the freedom of attacking a challenge and problem solving my way through it invigorated me and helped me to feel less trapped by blindness. It was this early seed of adventure that fueled an ambition in me that would eventually lead to hundreds of ascents around the world and all the way to the summit of Mount Everest.”
