World's Fair Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids World's Fair Park
World's Fair Park, with the Sunsphere and Tennessee Amphitheater in the background
Type	Public park
Location	Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Created	May 1, 1982
Owned by	City of Knoxville
Operated by	Knoxville Public Building Authority
Open	6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Public transit access	KAT 10, 11, 17, 42, 81, 82
Website	http://worldsfairpark.org/

World's Fair Park is a fun public park located right in the middle of Knoxville, Tennessee. This park was once the site of the exciting 1982 World's Fair, a huge event that brought people from all over the world to Knoxville. Today, you can still see two cool buildings from that fair: the Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater.

Exploring World's Fair Park

World's Fair Park is a great place to visit in Knoxville. It has a big grassy area for events and shows. There's also a pretty lake with a fountain that sprays water high into the air. The famous Sunsphere tower stands tall in the park, too.

What You'll Find at the Park

The main lawn is about 5-acre (2.0 ha) big. It's used for many different cultural and community events. Imagine concerts, festivals, and other fun gatherings happening right here! The park is looked after by the Knoxville Public Building Authority. However, the Sunsphere itself is managed separately.

Buildings Around the Park

Several important buildings are located around World's Fair Park. These include the Knoxville Museum of Art, where you can see amazing artworks. There's also the Knoxville Convention Center, a large building used for big meetings and events. The L&N STEM Academy, a school, is also nearby. It's in an old train station building called the Louisville and Nashville station.

To the west of the park, you'll find a building known as the Candy Factory. This building used to be a factory where candy was made. During the 1982 World's Fair, it was used for offices. Now, it has been updated and holds offices, art galleries, and even homes.

Train Tracks Nearby

A train track, called the Knoxville District K&A Line, runs near the northern part of the park. This track goes all the way to Maryville in nearby Blount County. People are thinking about turning these old train tracks into a light rail line. This would be a new way for people to travel around the city.

History of the Park

Before it became a park, this area was a busy place for trains. It was a large railroad yard. But for the 1982 World's Fair, the land was transformed into the beautiful park you see today.

After the World's Fair

After the fair ended in October 1982, the park needed a lot of work. Many of the temporary buildings from the fair had to be taken down. The city also had to clean up graffiti and make sure the remaining buildings were safe.

For many years, the Sunsphere and another building called the U.S. Pavilion were empty. In 1991, the U.S. Pavilion was so old and unsafe that it had to be carefully taken down. It was demolished using a special method called implosion. The Sunsphere, however, started to be used again in 2007. Today, it has offices and a public observation deck where you can enjoy amazing views of Knoxville.

Recent Updates to the Park

In 2018, the city council approved a plan to make the Sunsphere and Amphitheater even better. They spent money to fix the Sunsphere's elevators, update its heating and cooling systems, and repair its windows. Both buildings also got a fresh coat of paint.

In 2019, the park's main lawn was closed for a short time for its own updates. It reopened later that year in July, looking even nicer. Also in 2019, the finish line for the Knoxville Marathon was moved to World's Fair Park. It used to be at Neyland Stadium, but renovations there meant a new spot was needed.

Gallery

• 

  The Sunsphere, as seen from the southern part of the park.

• 

  Northern portion of the park, with the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in the center, World's Fair Exhibition Hall to the bottom right, and L&N STEM Academy to the upper right.

• 

  Southern portion of the park, with the Knoxville Convention center at the left and the Tennessee Amphitheater at the right

• 

  East Tennessee Veterans Memorial located in the northern portion of the park.