Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Millions of dollars in state money is going to parks across the state, including right here in East Tennessee.

The state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation says they’re giving away over $21 million dollars in grants to parks in Tennessee, all through a program (Local Parks and Recreation Fund), that helps buy land for parks and improve greenways and recreational facilities.

“The LPRF program is a critical resource that the Office of Outdoor Recreation manages to help expand access to recreational opportunities in our local communities,” said Brian Clifford, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “These grants directly contribute to improving the quality of life, health, and economy in our cities and counties.”

The grants were awarded to 27 communities across the state, including the following in East Tennessee:

• Bean Station in Grainger County – Awarded $125,000 for upgrades to the existing playground area, parking and two ballfields at City Park.
• Blaine in Grainer County – Awarded $75,000 for milling/resurfacing of the parking lot, striping and accessible parking, signage, park benches and fence toppers for the ballfield at City Park.
• Dandridge in Jefferson County – Awarded $500,000 for playground, restroom building, access paths, a shade structure, accessible parking and pickleball courts at Field of Dreams Playground.
• Harriman in Roane County – Awarded $300,000 for improvements at the Community Center that will include new flooring for the gymnasium, an HVAC system and parking lot paving. Improvements at Riverfront Park will include Phase I of the installation of new trail lighting.
• Norris in Anderson County – Awarded $375,000 for the redevelopment of tennis courts into a new complex to including a tennis court, pickle ball courts, and a new outdoor basketball court, upgrades to the existing restroom, parking, and accessible pathways at Memorial Park.
• Oliver Springs in Roane County – Awarded $29,000 for accessible pathways to the ballfields, concrete pads for the bleachers and accessible seating areas, and LED security light replacements at Arrowhead Park.
• Rocky Top in Anderson County – Awarded $566,000 for an upgrade of the existing restroom facility, replacement of bleacher structure with a press box on top and accessibility features at Community Center Park.

“Communities across the state need resources to provide Tennesseans with excellent recreational opportunities, and these grants support those projects,” said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Conservation at TDEC. “The grants and local teamwork our Tennessee legislators established in this funding program will continue to support many exciting new features at the local level.”

Click here for more information about the LPRF program and for guidance on how to apply.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville husband and wife have been arrested on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and tax offenses.

The United States Department of Justice said a federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment last week on 53-year-old Kenneth Francis Lee and 54-year-old Susan Amie Lee, both of Knoxville.

The Lees are accused of concocting a scheme to defraud investors and obtain money by falsely claiming that Kenneth was in litigation to sell a company to a large U.S. based investment firm and that, in exchange for help with “legal fees” for the transaction, victims would receive a percentage of the sale.

According to the DOJ, the victims never saw any money as there was no settlement, and the Lees allegedly spent it on personal expenses, including funding Kenneth Lee’s gambling habit.

Additionally, the DOJ says Kenneth did not report any of his income to the IRS despite being required to do so.

Susan is alleged in the indictment to have helped in collecting the fraud proceeds into accounts in her name and spending those funds.

Kenneth was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering and three counts of tax offenses, and Susan was indicted on three counts of money laundering offenses. The DOJ said they appeared in court on Wednesday and entered not guilty pleas.

If convicted, the DOJ said Kenneth and Susan both face up to 20 years in prison.

Their trial is scheduled for October 22.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxville city officials continue to need your help in finding a missing park statue.

It’s a bronze statue of two children sitting on a bench reading.

Officials in Knox County say the statue was stolen from Strickland Park just a few weeks ago and has still not been found.

If you have any information, please contact the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department via email at [email protected] or phone at 865-215-6600.

ORIGINAL STORY: Officials with the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department are asking for help after a bronze monument went missing.

According to officials, the monument depicting children reading that used to live at Thomas “Tank” Strickland Park was stolen.

The department took to social media Monday with the announcement adding “it appears someone loved this reading children statue so much that they took it for their own, leaving the kids who visit this park to be confused about where their friends went.”

Those with information are being asked to email [email protected] or call 865-215-6600.