Town of Henning Breaks Ground on BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park

$1.44 million investment from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation will bring new amenities to community space

HENNING, Tenn. - Representatives from the Town of Henning and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recently gathered to break ground on the BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park.

The BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park will provide residents with a gathering space as the community grows. The BlueCross Foundation is investing $1.44 million in the project, and features will include:

• Inclusive play areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12
• Adult fitness equipment
• Community pavilion
• Sidewalk
• Landscaping

"This investment by the BlueCross Foundation will benefit the residents of Henning by providing a healthy outdoor space and serving as a catalyst for the town's revitalization," said Isa Reeb, consultant with West TN Planning. "As we engaged the community for the town's master plan, we saw both the need and the opportunity for parks and youth facilities to help bring Main Street back to its former glory. We are so excited for the residents to have a safe neighborhood park to gather, exercise, and play, and to see a great organization care about their health and wellbeing."

Established in 2018, the BlueCross Healthy Place program creates and revitalizes public spaces that encourage neighbors to come together, connect with one another and enjoy healthy activity. Since the program launched, its 23 open parks have received more than 3 million visits.

The BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park is one of three projects the foundation is supporting in 2025. The others include the BlueCross Healthy Place at Erwin Fishery Park in Erwin and the BlueCross Healthy Place at the Chattanooga Airport.

The 2025 investments total just over $10 million and bring much-needed assets to communities across the state.

"Our goal with the BlueCross Healthy Place program has always been to bring people together, in communities of all sizes, all across our state," said Chelsea Johnson, director of community relations for BlueCross. "Our investment in the BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park will help to improve lives in the community and usher in an exciting new era of development for the area - something we're excited to be part of."

"There are a lot of great things on the horizon for the Henning area, and we're glad the BlueCross Healthy Place at Henning Park will be part of the community's transformation," added Kevin Woods, BlueCross Memphis market president. "We're excited to get work underway on this new community space, and we hope it serves the town for years to come."

To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $70 million in BlueCross Healthy Place projects throughout Tennessee. There are now 28 projects open or in progress statewide with more on the way.

For more on the BlueCross Healthy Place program, see BlueCrossHealthyPlacesTN.com.

About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 75 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company's news center at bcbstnews.com.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.

The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The foundation's funding is separate from health plan operations and must be used to benefit Tennessee communities. It has awarded $120 million in grants since 2005 and provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.