Welcome to Jonesborough Parks and Recreation! Our department is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Tennessee’s oldest town by providing safe, accessible parks and a wide range of recreational opportunities for all ages. From ballfields, playgrounds, and scenic trails to community events, athletic leagues, and year-round programs, we strive to create spaces that inspire wellness, connection, and adventure. Whether you’re looking to stay active, explore nature, or enjoy time with family and friends, Jonesborough Parks and Recreation has something for everyone.
Contact
| Chris Kudera | Parks and Recreation Director | 423.753.1030 |
| Matt Townsend | Maintenance Supervisor | 423.791.3732 |
Chris Kudera
Parks and Recreation Director
Town of Jonesborough, TennesseeOur mission is to enhance the quality of life by ensuring diverse recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages and providing the highest quality staff, services, facilities, parks and programs possible.
The Recreation Department responsibilities cover a number of areas within the Town’s services and facilities offered for use to its residents. Those include: parks, open spaces and trails, athletics, seasonal special events, and Wetland Water Park.
The Jonesborough Recreation Advisory Committee is made up of eleven (11) members including: the Jonesborough Mayor, the Washington County Mayor or designee, one Alderman from the Jonesborough Board of Aldermen, the president of the Jonesborough Little League Association, the president of the Persimmon Ridge Soccer Association, and six (6) additional at-large members. The Recreation Advisory Committee meets monthly, every fourth Thursday of each month at 6 pm.
Matt Townsend
Maintenance Supervisor
Town of Jonesborough, Tennessee
William Russell
Parks and Recreation Maintenance
Town of Jonesborough, TennesseeEvents Coming Up
PAINT IN THE PARK with Tania Dirks
May “Canoe on the Lake ”
A monthly series for all ages to paint with Jonesborough Parks & Recreation and the Jonesborough Senior Center. Local artist Tania Dirks guides you through a fun and creative paint evening!
Join us for a relaxing and creative outdoor painting experience with local artist Tania Dirks our first paint night we will paint the Canoe on the Lake on an 11×14” canvas, all supplies included. Dress to be outside and must preregister with Square Link.
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 6-8 pm
Cost: $35 per person, must preregister with the Square link
Where: Lincoln Park 307 E Main St, Jonesborough, TN 37659
Under the pavilion by the pickleball court, unless weather is severe, we can use the senior center; we will announce this on social media.
The Jonesborough Civitan Club, in partnership with Jonesborough Parks and Recreation, is excited to announce the upcoming Jonesborough Civitan Pickleball Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, May 30 at Tiger Park. A rain date has been set for Saturday, June 6. The tournament will feature Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles divisions. This will be an Open tournament, meaning players of all skill levels will compete together, creating a fun and competitive environment for everyone involved. Check-in will begin at 7:15 a.m., with matches starting promptly at 8:00 a.m. All games will take place at Tiger Park’s pickleball courts. Teams can register for $20 per team through RecDesk. Participants are guaranteed at least six games, depending on the number of teams registered, ensuring plenty of play time throughout the day. Registration closes on Friday, May 22nd with the schedule posted on May 23rd. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the tournament. In addition, sponsorship opportunities are available for $100 per sponsor, providing a great way for local businesses and organizations to support a meaningful cause. Proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit the Jonesborough Civitan Club’s mission to support the community through scholarships, outreach programs, and other local initiatives.
For more information and to register, visit RecDesk or contact Jonesborough Parks and Recreation at parkandrec@jonesboroughtn.org.
Jonesborough Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces
All Jonesborough parks are available to the general public on a first come first serve basis, however, we do provide the option for rentals.
Depot Street Park
Depot Street Park located at 400 Depot Street offers a basketball court, pavilion, restrooms and playground for children ages 5-12 years. This is a perfect area for birthday parties and letting the children play within a fenced area.
Golden Oak Park
Golden Oak Park located at 277 Goldenrod Drive. Located just north of Persimmon Ridge Park and includes a walking trail (a portion of the Lost State Scenic Walkway), playground equipment for children ages 2-12 years, pavilion and restrooms. The pavilion can accommodate up to 45 people and is available for birthdays and special events.
Mill Spring Park
Mill Spring Park located at 111 Fox Street includes a portion of the Lost State Scenic Walkway, restrooms (open year round) and a gazebo available for public use and rentals.
Persimmon Ridge Park
Persimmon Ridge Park located at 1523 Persimmon Ridge Road is a 130 acre park that features biking and hiking trails, a portion of the Lost State Scenic Walkway, ball fields, playground for children of all ages, basketball court and a family friendly Water Park. An 18 hole Disc Golf Course is now open and is a popular feature of the park.
Landscaped/Green Spaces
Landscaped/Green Spaces throughout town have been designated as sustainable landscaped areas. The Parks and Recreation Department has been designated with the task of implementing these landscape projects and maintaining them. These areas include: medians on 11-E, Veterans Park, Downtown Washington County Courthouse parking lot, Stage Road Park, Wetlands Water Park and McKinney Center. Plans are to continue the design and implementation of landscape areas in order to improve the appearance of green spaces and improve the quality of life in Jonesborough. The department is also responsible for the maintenance of the planters throughout downtown as well as the seasonal decorations.
Barkley Creek Park
615 W Main Street
The park was donated by Ben Parrish and Rebecca Isbell with the intent to develop the property into a larger park, including soccer fields. Plans changed due to the presence of wetlands areas, resulting in creating more of a passive park that makes a connection from Persimmon Ridge Road to downtown via the development of the Lost State Scenic Walkway. The pond is 50% owned by the Town and 50% by the residents of the adjacent houses. The park is dawn to dusk. We ask all patrons to please respect the private property and stay on the public side of the pond. We also ask to catch and release all fish.
Tiger Park
Tiger Park is Jonesborough’s most versatile recreation space, offering a wide variety of amenities for families, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts. The park features four playgrounds, eight pickleball courts, a baseball field, softball field, multi-purpose field, and a dedicated football field. Visitors can also enjoy a rubberized walking track and a network of walking trails that wind throughout the park.
Due to its shared-use agreement with Washington County Schools, Tiger Park is closed to the public during school hours but is fully open for community use after school, evenings, and weekends. Whether you’re looking to play, practice, or simply enjoy the outdoors, Tiger Park provides a vibrant space for year-round recreation.
Stage Road Park
Stage Road Park located at 188 Stage Road is a three and a half acre park that includes a portion of the Lost State Scenic Walkway, tennis/pickleball court, pavilion that can accommodate up to 35 people, restrooms and playground for children ages 2-12 years. The pavilion is available for birthdays and special events.
Jimmy Neil Smith Park
Jimmy Neil Smith Park, named in honor of International Storytelling Center founder and President Emeritus, is located at 111 W. College Street, just behind the Storytelling Center in downtown. The park is extensively landscaped and includes walking trails and lends the perfect location in the heart of downtown for enjoying nature. The park is available for rental for events by calling the International Storytelling Center at 423.913.8234.
The Storybook Trail
The three-acre park recently underwent an extensive relandscaping and rejuvenation campaign. The paved walking trails throughout include a special path, Storybook Trail, that promotes childhood literacy, family bonding, and gentle exercise. Semi-permanent placards that line the trail tell a story from a children’s book. The placards are changed several times a year to feature new text and illustrations.
Funding for the Storybook Trail was provided by local Jonesborough residents, Harold and Dr. Nancy Dishner. The park also features a Little Free Library that contains books for visitors to take home and enjoy.
Friends of Jimmy Neil Smith Park campaign provides support for the upkeep of the park and fund new placards for the Storybook Trail.
The book on display in the park currently is The Pig Who Went Home on Sunday, written by Donald Davis and illustrated by Jennifer Mazzucco. The presentation of the book is made possible by Jonesborough locals Darrell and Susan Fowler.
If you would like to support the efforts and upkeep of the park by becoming a Friend of Jimmy Neil Smith Park with a tax deductible gift, please visit https://www.storytellingcenter.net/friend-of-the-jimmy-neil-smith-park/.
Veterans Park
Located at 117 Boone Street and adjacent to the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, Veterans Park was constructed to honor Washington County Military Veterans who have served in the United States Military from 1776 through the current date.
Vines Farm Park
Located in Vines Farm Subdivision, this park offers scenic views, walking trail and green space.
Wetlands Water Park
Wetlands Water Park is located within Persimmon Ridge Park. Wetlands is opens around Memorial Day through the end of September offering fun for the whole family! Enjoy the water slides, lazy river, zero depth wading area, water bubblers and much more! Wetlands also offers a full service café and sand volleyball court. The Water Park is also available for birthday parties and private parties. For more information, visit www.wetlandsjonesborough.com
Season passes and private rentals are purchased exclusively online through RecDesk. More information can be found at www.wetlandsjonesborough.com.
W.C. Rowe Park
W.C. Rowe Park is adjacent to the Chuckey Depot Museum and features a walking trail connecting downtown to the Lost State Scenic Highway.
The Lost State Scenic Walkway
The Lost State Scenic Walkway spans approximately 3 miles of trail that begins in downtown Jonesborough at Mill Spring Park and ends at Golden Oak Park within the Meadows and Mill Creek subdivisions. The multi-use trail, perfect for walking, biking or running, is moderately hilly in some areas and provides a scenic view of the many facets of Jonesborough. Plans are underway to extend the walkway east along East Main Street, from First Baptist Church to Jonesborough Elementary and Middle Schools.
Lincoln Park
Located directly behind the Jonesborough Senior Center, Lincoln Park is a welcoming community greenspace that serves both daily senior center programs and the wider public. The park features raised garden beds that support the Senior Center’s meal programs, along with a playground, picnic shelter, and open grassy areas for relaxation and play.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational amenities, including a pickleball court, bocce ball court, and horseshoe pits. Lincoln Park is open to everyone, and its courts and pavilion are available to rent for gatherings, programs, and special events.
Jonesborough Athletics
Though a small community with a relatively small recreation staff, Jonesborough has been able to create many recreation and leisure service opportunities for children and adults by combining efforts with community organizations to achieve common goals. Some of the athletic programming is listed below and currently all take place at Persimmon Ridge Park.
Jonesborough Little League Association
In 1979 the Board of Mayor and Aldermen entered into an agreement with the Jonesborough Baseball and Softball Association to undertake a comprehensive baseball/softball program for youth. The town built new ball facilities and provided staff for mowing, etc. This partnership has continued for thirty + years. Additional ballfield facilities have been developed and there are a large number of Washington County youth involved in Jonesborough’s program. The Association finds coaches and umpires, provides equipment, develops sponsors, and establishes the schedule under the oversight of Recreation staff.
Jonesborough prepares fields and undertakes on-going maintenance and improvements with facilities. This relationship is stronger than ever, and the Little League President is a member of the Jonesborough Recreation Advisory Board. The Town of Jonesborough also has an agreement with the Little League Association for use of the Town’s concession stand at the ballfields. Signups for 2019 season are complete.
NFL Flag Football
Ages 5–17+ | Spring & Fall Seasons
Jonesborough Parks & Recreation is proud to partner with NFL FLAG, the official flag football program of the NFL, to bring a high-quality, fast-paced, and inclusive youth sports experience to our community. NFL FLAG offers all the fun of football including teamwork, strategy, skill development, without the contact. It’s one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the nation and a perfect fit for kids of all ages and experience levels.
Kickball
Ages 16+ | Spring Season
Relive your favorite PE memories and join Jonesborough Parks & Recreation for a fun, laid-back, and wildly entertaining season of Adult Coed Kickball! Perfect for friends, coworkers, church groups, and anyone looking to get active, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors. Whether your team is ultra-competitive or just in it for the laughs, kickball is an easy, inclusive sport that anyone can play.
Jonesborough Soccer Association
The Recreation Department has an agreement with the Persimmon Ridge Youth Soccer Association similar to the Little League Association (Baseball & Softball Association). Over 500 youth participate in a soccer program in which the Association provides equipment, coaches, referees, etc. and the Recreation Department provides facilities and the on-going care of fields. The Town also has a concession agreement with the Soccer Association in an effort to help them generate revenue to support the program.
Teams are grouped according to age: 4 – 5 years, 6 – 7 years, 8 – 9 years, 10 – 12 years and 13 – 15 years old. For more information, contact Jonesboroughsoccer@gmail.com or Parkandrec@jonesboroughtn.org. Practices begin in September.
Spring Registration is now open until February 15th.
Adult Co-Ed Softball
Softball programming for adults 18 years and up is offered every summer at Persimmon Ridge Park. Teams are COED and follow USSSA rules. Registration begins in May and the season runs from July to August.
Get Involved
Community Garden Volunteer
We are currently looking for volunteers who would like to lend a helping hand in the greenhouse. No experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn and enjoy working with plants!
Volunteer activities may include:
- Planting seeds and seedlings
- Watering and basic plant care
- Helping organize the greenhouse space
- Weeding
Whether you love gardening or just want to learn something new, we would love to have you join us.
Please contact Sunny at Sezell@jonesboroughtn.org for any questions.
Ridge Rangers
Love the outdoors? Become a Ridge Ranger and help keep the trails at Persimmon Ridge clean, safe, and beautiful. As a volunteer, you’ll hike the trails, remove litter, and report any major damage to the Parks and Recreation team. Sign up today to make a difference in your community!
Sensory Easter Egg Hunt
Looking for a fun and meaningful way to give back this season? Be part of our Sensory Easter Egg Hunt and help create a welcoming, inclusive experience for individuals of all ages and abilities. Designed with a calm, sensory-friendly approach, this event offers a relaxed environment where everyone can enjoy the excitement of an egg hunt at their own pace. As a volunteer, you’ll support activity stations, assist participants, and help create a comfortable, engaging space for families. From guiding guests through designated hunt zones to lending a helping hand when needed, your role helps make this special experience possible.
Join us in spreading joy, inclusion, and community!
Great Jonesborough Pumpkin Carving
Love fall and all things festive? Be part of our Great Jonesborough Pumpkin Carving event and help create a fun, family-friendly experience for the community. This hands-on event invites participants to carve pumpkins together and be part of a festive seasonal tradition. As a volunteer, you’ll assist with setup, help guide participants, support carving stations, and keep the event running smoothly. You’ll play a key role in creating a welcoming and organized environment where families can enjoy the experience and show off their creativity.
Join us in bringing this fall favorite to life and help make it a memorable event for the whole community!
Fall Decorations
Love fall and getting creative? Help transform downtown Jonesborough into a cozy, festive fall destination for the whole community. From pumpkins and hay bales to seasonal décor, this event brings the charm of autumn to life throughout the streets. As a volunteer, you’ll help set up decorations, arrange displays, and bring the vision of a beautiful fall downtown to reality. Whether you’re styling storefronts or placing final touches, your efforts help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Join us in celebrating the season and help make downtown Jonesborough feel like fall!
Fall Decorations
Love the outdoors and giving back? Help care for the Arboretum or the Food Forest and keep our parks clean, beautiful, and enjoyable for everyone. This space is designed to bring the community together through nature, and your help keeps it thriving. As a volunteer, you’ll assist with general upkeep like maintaining garden areas, picking up litter, and helping care for plants and shared spaces. Your work helps create a peaceful, welcoming environment where visitors can relax, explore, and connect with nature.
Join us in preserving these special places and help keep our parks thriving for the whole community.
Adopt- a-Park
Love your community and want to make a lasting impact? Join the Adopt-a-Park Program and help keep Jonesborough’s parks clean, beautiful, and enjoyable for everyone. This program brings together individuals, families, and groups who care about preserving our local green spaces and creating a welcoming environment for all.
As a volunteer, you’ll help with tasks like picking up litter, maintaining landscaped areas, caring for plants, and supporting seasonal cleanups. Whether you’re working along trails, in playgrounds, or garden spaces, your efforts help protect and enhance the natural beauty of our parks.
Join us in taking pride in our community and help keep Jonesborough beautiful, one park at a time!
Fourth of July Parade
Celebrate Independence Day with our annual Fourth of July Parade, a fun-filled community event featuring festive floats, local organizations, and patriotic spirit! This event brings everyone together to honor our nation with music, decorations, and hometown pride. Volunteers play a key role in making the parade a success—they can help park cars, line floats up, judge entries, and assist with event coordination.
Join us for a day of celebration, community, and red, white, and blue!
Christmas Parade
Get into the holiday spirit with our annual Christmas Parade, a magical event filled with festive floats, holiday music, and seasonal cheer for all ages. From twinkling lights to creative displays, this parade is a cherished tradition that brings the community together to celebrate the joy of the season. Volunteers are essential to the event’s success and can help park cars, line floats up, judge entries, and assist throughout the parade. Come be part of the holiday magic and make lasting memories!
Recreation Advisory Committee
The Recreation Commission was established in 1976 by ordinance, and in 1996 the BMA amended the body to be the Jonesborough Recreation Advisory Committee (JRAC). The Jonesborough Recreation Advisory Committee is made up of eleven (11) members including: the Jonesborough Mayor, the Washington County Mayor or designee, one Alderman from the Jonesborough Board of Aldermen, the president of the Jonesborough Little League Association, the president of the Persimmon Ridge Soccer Association, and six (6) additional at-large members. Terms for the Recreation Advisory Committee were not formally determined in the 1996 restructuring; however, traditionally members have served five (5) terms as established in the enabling ordinance for the Recreation Commission in 1976. The Recreation Advisory Committee meets monthly, every third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm. All policies and procedures related to the operation of the Jonesborough Parks and Recreation Department are reviewed by the JRAC and recommendations are provided to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for adoption. The Town Board has authorized the Jonesborough Recreation Advisory Committee to establish and administer the Jonesborough Parks and Recreation Fund. Through procedures approved by the Town Recorder, the Recreation Advisory Board raises money to support recreational activities and they determine how the funds raised are spent. These funds are not part of the Recreation Department’s normal operating budget. The Recreation Advisory Committee adopts the five year work plan for the Department including Mission Statement and Goals & Objectives. The JRAC initiates annual reviews of the Mission Statement, the 5-year Plan and the BMA’s Two-Year Work Plan.
5 Year Term
3rd Thursday each month
6 pm at Visitors Center
| Jimmy Rhein | |
| Mark Merriman | Chairman |
| Dr. Jason Davis | |
| Adam Dickson | Alderman |
| Carla Weems | |
| Bryan Barnett | |
| David Barnette | Jonesborough Soccer Representative |
| Lori Rosenoff | |
| Michell Gunter | Little League Representative |
| Chris Kudera | Parks and Recreation Director |
