Unveils Signs at Sports Fields
The Knoxville/Knox County CHARACTER COUNTS! organization unveiled the first phase of a program at John Tarleton Park to place signs at sports fields around the community. The signs will remind coaches, parents and participants of the importance of displaying the six pillars of character, as they relate to sporting events.
“We are excited to launch this initiative in our sports community as part of our Pursuing Victory With Honor program,” said Donna Cobble, President and Board Chair of CHARACTER COUNTS! of Knoxville/Knox County. “We want to especially thank Wes Stowers for funding this first set of signs,” she added.
The signs, placed beneath the scoreboards on each field, list the six pillars of the CHARACTER COUNTS! initiative: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
The county’s John Tarleton Park hosts the Knox Metro Youth Football program which has games on all five fields, four days a week. “This is a very busy park during the fall,” said Doug Bataille, Senior Director of Knox County Parks and Recreation. “With players, families, coaches and officials, we have over 3,000 people here on weeknights and Saturdays,” Bataille added. Because of those numbers, John Tarleton Park was chosen as the first site to receive the signs.
CHARACTER COUNTS! plans to expand the program to all local sports fields over the next few years. Fundraising efforts have begun to underwrite the cost of the signs. Opportunities are available for individuals and organizations or corporations to sponsor signs at other parks throughout the city and county.
For more information, please contact Knox County Parks and Recreation, 215-6600
