In Rogersville, an authentic community effort is taking root, driven by a simple desire to build something lasting together.
Chris Ballard is central to this initiative, wearing several local hats: he is the pastor at Story CHURCH, co-owner of Storytown Coffee Company, and the park board president for the planned Storytown Park. He also coaches high school soccer, indicating a deep, attentive presence in the community.
Story Church, founded about ten years ago, settled in Jamestown Plaza in 2019. The plaza itself was an unfinished development, but a pivotal moment arrived when a local businessman bought it. Ballard's connection with the new owner revealed a shared vision for a church, a coffee shop, and a welcoming community hub.
The vision began with the coffee shop in 2020, but Ballard felt the community needed something more significant—a place people genuinely wanted to be. Instead of making assumptions, they engaged the community by asking: What is needed? A community gathering space quickly emerged as the clear answer.
This led to the ambitious idea for Storytown Park. Ballard presented the church leadership with a choice: use their land for their own expansion or turn it into a community park, co-created with the public. They chose the latter, committing to create a free, low-pressure space for people to simply exist and hang out, without needing to buy anything or sign up for a program.
The project aims to raise $1.3 million. Significant progress has been made through donations, pledges, and in-kind support from individuals, local businesses, and even other churches. Ballard has emphasized that this is a community project, not a church-branded one. City leaders have approved the plan, recognizing the need for such a space, especially since a full community center is not imminent.
For Ballard, the ultimate goal isn't just a successful build or high attendance numbers. It’s a profound question of civic impact: would the town truly miss the presence of these efforts if they were gone? This genuine commitment to the community's fabric continues to drive the ongoing fundraising and planning efforts.
If successful, Storytown Park will become a much-needed new gathering spot in Rogersville—simple, authentic, and built on a sense of belonging.
To learn more, visit thestory417.com and storytimepark.com.
ARTIST RENDERING OF STORY TIME PARK
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
