Environment and Conservation Provides Update on State Recreation Plan; Additional Meetings Scheduled

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

A series of meetings was held in April, designed to receive public comments about the new plan. At the July public meetings, participants will be asked to review the work that has taken place thus far and meetings will begin with a 30-minute presentation describing the results of a new scientific survey of Tennesseans’ attitudes on recreation. Participants will be invited to ask questions, comment on the plan’s findings and offer suggestions on the future of the state’s conservation and recreation efforts. 

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. 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 for the next ten years. 

“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.

Three regional public meetings have been scheduled to facilitate input July 27-29, including: 

• Knoxville – July 27, Knoxville / Knox City-County Building, Small Assembly Room, 400 Main Street, 6:30 p.m. 
• Memphis – July 28, Arlington Town Hall, 5854 Airline Road, 6:30 p.m. 
• Nashville – July 29, Goodlettsville City Hall, 105 South Main Street, 6:30 p.m.