TN First Lady Maria Lee is partnering with a nonprofit to build an accessible playground in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – On Saturday, Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee and Governor Bill Lee joined community leaders and volunteers from across the state to build a new playground in Clay County.

According to officials, the first lady's initiative, Tennessee Serves — along with the Tractor Supply Foundation, the Tennessee Titans and Cleary Construction — has partnered with a statewide nonprofit organization, KABOOM!, and the Clay County government to help Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible play space at Hermitage Springs Park.

Saturday May 18th began with an exciting launch ceremony before volunteers spent the rest of the morning and afternoon building the playground. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, including remarks from the First Lady, the Governor, Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan and KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff and other project partners and community leaders, the release said.

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“Today we saw many Tennesseans come together to serve their rural neighbors. “I hope this playground continues to bring people together and be a place of joy, growth and safe play for this community,” said the First Lady. “Since the beginning of our administration, I have dreamed of leaving something lasting in a distressed county that would bless Tennesseans for generations to come. I am so grateful to all of our great partners and the Clay County community for coming together to bring this vision to life.”

Officials said Tennessee Serves invited all eight of the Volunteer State's federally designated distressed counties to apply for the playground grant, but after reviewing the criteria, Clay County was selected.

“We are so grateful to First Lady Maria Lee and each of the partners who made this project possible,” Reagan said. “This playground will be a true blessing for children, families and all generations to come in Clay County.”

In March, the first lady hosted a design day in Clay County to hear input about the playground from students, parents and community members. Then, KABOOM! used this input to design the new play area.

“Playgrounds allow children to experience the diverse physical and mental benefits of play and have the freedom to take risks, build strong relationships, grow, explore and learn through joyful moments of play,” said KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff. “KABOOM! is thrilled to partner with Tennessee Serves, Tractor Supply Foundation, Cleary Construction and the Tennessee Titans to bring the new play area at Hermitage Springs Park to life, ensuring that Clay County children and future generations have a vibrant place to play , so they can enjoy their childhood and achieve their greatest potential.”

Studies have shown that parks and playgrounds can have a tremendously positive impact on children and their overall health, academic and physical performance, and socialization skills, according to a press release from the first lady's office. That's why Clay County's new playground is about investing in rural Tennessee's youth and creating a healthier state.

“At Tractor Supply, we are passionate about supporting life out here and being a good neighbor to the places we call home,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, manager of the Tractor Supply Foundation. “What a joy to bring a little joy to the children of Clay County through this incredible collaboration with the Tennessee First Lady, KABOOM!, the Tennessee Titans and Cleary Construction. Together, we can help give children the opportunity to get outside, have fun and thrive in our state’s rural communities.”

Officials said the playground represents an investment of more than $285,000 in the success and well-being of the Clay County community, adding that investments in parks and playgrounds can have significant economic benefits, particularly in struggling communities. Additionally, the project underscores the Lee Administration's focus on supporting rural Tennessee, encouraging community participation and driving the profound impact of public-private partnerships.

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“Cleary Construction and the Cleary Family are grateful for the opportunity to partner with First Lady Maria Lee on her Tennessee Serves initiative to provide the Hermitage Springs community with a safe and exciting new playground,” said Dawn Cleary, co-owner of Cleary Construction. “It is an honor to be a part of the preparation and completion of this project for our neighboring friends in Clay County. We hope this program will have a lasting positive impact on many families and future generations.”

The Tennessee Serves team engaged state corporations and community partners to multiply the philanthropic success of this new playground, which represents the unification of local government, state government, teachers, families, volunteers, statewide and local businesses and expands the impact of investments in, according to Clay County officials.

“ONE Community aims to support Nashville’s most underrepresented and marginalized communities through three key areas of focus – opportunity, neighborhoods and education. We are proud to support the Clay County neighborhood in collaboration with the First Lady's Office, Kaboom! and other fantastic local leaders,” said Johari Matthews, Vice President of the Titans’ ONE Community and Executive Director of the Titans Foundation. “All children deserve a safe and imaginative place to learn, grow and play. We hope this playground will serve as an anchor for the community and the families who call it home for many years to come.”

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the First Lady's Tennessee Serves initiative, with this project representing the initiative's largest project to date. To learn more about Tennessee Serves, click here.

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