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Thursday, 21 August 2025 13:13

Maryville honors East Tennessee conservation giant with fields and forests

A public park planned along U.S. 321 in Maryville will honor East Tennessee conservation legend Billy Minser. Linda Albert via social media

The park will host hiking trails and natural areas for the public to enjoy

MARYVILLE — The city and Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC) have partnered on the creation of Billy Minser Park, a new 23-acre public green space set to open in 2025 off U.S. 321 in Blount County.

The property for the park was donated by the late Catherine Gilreath to FLC and the City of Maryville with the shared goal of creating a space for public enjoyment and environmental education. The park is under a conservation easement — meaning it will be protected from development forever.

When complete, Billy Minser Park will feature hiking and walking trails along a scenic creek corridor through forests and open fields. It will serve as a place for the community to connect with nature while preserving local habitat.

The park honors William “Billy” Minser — a beloved conservationist, educator and long-time FLC board member whose career has spanned decades in forestry, wildlife management and land preservation.

“We have an opportunity right now to protect land for public parks, scenic views, wildlife habitat, clean waterways, unique natural features, farming, historical sites and the list goes on,” Minser said.

“Land trusts, like the Foothills Land Conservancy, have the tools and resources to partner with private and public landowners to preserve their land — this benefits all of us, our quality of life and that of future generations.”

Minser’s impact on conservation in Tennessee and beyond is extensive. Since joining the Foothills Land Conservancy in 1988, he has served as a director or special advisor, lending his expertise, resources and passion to protecting natural spaces.

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