Parks board approves Fields of Faith, hot-chicken festival, school agreement and memorial benches

The Hendersonville Board of Parks and Recreation approved multiple community items July 28, voting to permit a Fields of Faith event at Drakes Creek Park, allow a Sumner County Hot Chicken Festival at Veterans Park, recommend a school-facility agreement for JP 02 to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA), and install four memorial benches at city parks.

Fields of Faith: The board approved a request from Gabby Richardson, an area representative for Northern Middle Tennessee Fellowship of Christian Athletes, to hold the national Fields of Faith event at Drakes Creek Park on Sunday, Sept. 28. Richardson said tents for church groups would be placed in the park’s green space and a stage would be set off the main playing field; the event is scheduled to begin at about 5:00 p.m. The board approved the request by voice vote. The applicant said the organization had blocked the field for setup and expected minimal conflict with Saturday youth play; she noted the mini-kickers program (U5–U8) plays on Saturdays, not Sundays, which reduces scheduling impacts.

Sumner County Hot Chicken Festival: Dominique Evans presented a proposal to hold a hot-chicken and food-truck festival in the Veterans Park parking lot. Evans said she expects 10–20 food trucks and intends to return a portion of proceeds to Tennessee United and a local school. Staff said alcohol would not be sold; that avoids additional beer-board review, but event organizers must pay a small event fee (stated as $150), and each food vendor must provide a certificate of insurance and pay a $50 vendor permit fee. The board approved the festival by voice vote.

School park agreement for JP 02: Staff described a standard reciprocal-use agreement requested by the JP 02 school headmaster after a successful season using the school’s gym. Under the proposed agreement, the city and JP 02 would allow use of each other’s facilities at no cost when available, mirroring the city’s existing agreement with Sumner County Schools. The board voted to recommend that BOMA approve the agreement.

Memorial benches: The board approved installation of four memorial benches at city parks. One bench, funded from the parks operating budget, was authorized near the city Christmas tree to honor Linda Evgen, founder and longtime president of Holiday Fest; two “Parker Strong” benches for teen suicide awareness were approved for the Memorial Park sidewalk and Veterans Park near the skate park (locations chosen by the family); and another bench was approved in memory of Steven Samerica, purchased by his family. Staff said the Evgen bench is planned to be in place by the city’s tree-lighting ceremony.

Votes at a glance: All items were approved by voice votes during the July 28 meeting with no recorded opposing votes in the meeting transcript. Where a mover or seconder was named in the record, the minutes reflect it: the JP 02 recommendation was moved by Miss Rather and seconded by Mister Golden; the memorial benches motion was moved by Mister Bennett and seconded by Mister Perry. For other motions the transcript records a motion and a second but does not clearly attribute both actions to named members.

The board’s approvals are permissive (event permits and an interlocal-style facility agreement) and generally come with standard staff conditions—vendor insurance, small-event fees and coordination with parks maintenance.