A Fort Kid board game is being painted at the playground, and the artist needs your help

Ryan Wilusz, Knoxville News Sentinel
·1 min read

Since the early 1990s, Fort Kid playground in downtown Knoxville has been a canvas for the imagination, with swings, slides and open space spurring impromptu games among children.

But soon, Fort Kid will have an official game painted along its sidewalks for parents and children to enjoy as they navigate all that's new at the renovated recreational landmark.

Think of the sidewalk like a board game, with spaces painted along the walkway. Answering questions would move you ahead, and each adhesive prompt could be changed periodically to keep the game fresh.

There's more to this idea than simply having fun, according to a city news release. Part of the plan has to do with connecting the playground to the nearby Knoxville Museum of Art, which is free to visit.

The playground, built by the community in 1991 for the city's bicentennial, reopened with all new features March 6. The original structures were demolished in 2020 over some safety concerns regarding aging infrastructure and outdated equipment.

The new version includes a fort tower and slide, climbing and balancing poles, a fully accessible merry-go-round and a play area for toddlers.

The park also received ADA improvements, including an accessible ramp, which also will be painted.

The mural is scheduled to wrap up in late fall, according to the city. Artist Dustin Durham plans to have "community paint" days, where residents can participate in the making of the mural.

Artist Dustin Durham is creating a mural along the sidewalks of Fort Kid playground in downtown Knoxville that will serve as a board game. Answering questions on the spaces allows players to move along the board, which connects to the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Artist Dustin Durham is creating a mural along the sidewalks of Fort Kid playground in downtown Knoxville that will serve as a board game. Answering questions on the spaces allows players to move along the board, which connects to the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Keep an eye on the city's social media channels for announcements about community paint days.

Fort Kid is located at 1050 World's Fair Park Drive. The neighboring Fort Kid parking lot has 78 spaces and is free for two hours.

Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff. 

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Downtown Knoxville playground Fort Kid adding interactive board game