Environment and Conservation Announces Public Meetings for State Recreation Plan

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will hold a series of public meetings in April to discuss the Tennessee Recreation Plan, which identifies opportunities for statewide recreation. The public is invited to attend and provide input about the plan.

Every five years the state is required by federal statute to prepare a State Recreation Plan to identify potential issues and needs for statewide recreation. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation coordinates the State Recreation Plan update, recognizing current efforts, trends and needs in recreation development and delivery statewide. Upon the National Park Service’s approval of a completed plan, Tennessee becomes eligible for continued funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The plan includes both outdoor and indoor recreational opportunities. 

“With a due date of September 30, 2009, the process for a new plan has begun, including a peer review from several groups and input from the public,” said Mark Tummons, director of the Recreation Educational Services division. “This is a thorough undertaking and not only will it culminate with a very defined State Recreation Plan, it also will be included as part of the state’s 10-year Land and Water Conservation Strategy.”    

Guidelines for preparing a State Recreation Plan require that Tennessee appoint an advisory committee to oversee the planning process. Appointed by Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke, the Tennessee Recreation Advisory Committee includes representatives with a broad range of recreational interests and expertise from various geographic regions across Tennessee.

According to Tummons, input on recreation issues from a wide spectrum of citizens, agencies and public officials is vital to the process and helps prioritize recreation needs and guide distribution of grant funds, land acquisitions and facility/site developments.

Four regional public meetings have been scheduled across the state to facilitate input April 6-9, including:

• Farragut – April 6, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive, 6:30 p.m. 
• Chattanooga – April 7, Coolidge Park / Walker Pavilion, 150 River Street, 6:30 p.m.
• Jackson – April 8, Jackson City Hall, 119 East Main Street, 6:30 p.m.
• Murfreesboro – April 9, Patterson Park Recreation Center / Dining Hall, 521 Mercury Boulevard, 6:30 p.m.

In addition, several working groups will hold meetings April 13-16 to discuss recreation and conservation priorities in four pre-determined focus areas. To be held at the Clover Bottom Mansion in Nashville on April 13 and at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage April 14-16, these meetings will be used to guide the development of the State Recreation Plan. 

For more information about Environment and Conservation’s Division of Recreation Education Services, visit the Web site www.tn.gov/environment/recreation. The current 2003-2008 State Recreation Plan may be viewed at www.tn.gov/environment/recreation/pdf/rec_plan_final.pdf.