The City of Maryville and Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC) plans to create the Billy Minser Park in Blount County. WBIR reported the plans on Thursday.

The report says the park will take up 23 acres of land off U.S. 321. The late Catherine Gilreath donated the property to the city and FLC. The land is protected under a conservation easement, which means it will never be developed.

Minser retired from UT in 2011 after serving as a research associate and instructor in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries for 40 years. Minser joined the Foothills Land Conservancy in 1988 and has served as a director or special advisor. He helped secure the Foothills Wildlife Management Area, created eight wildlife management areas in the Tennessee and expanded the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by 300 acres.

“We have an opportunity right now to protect land for public parks, scenic views, wildlife habitat, clean waterways, unique natural features, farming, historical sites and the list goes on,” Minser said in the report. “Land trusts, like the Foothills Land Conservancy, have the tools and resources to partner with private and public landowners to preserve their land – this benefits all of us, our quality of life, and that of future generations.”

Maryville and FLC will provide more details on the park soon.