NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, today announced $2.9 million in state funding for Sullivan County’s Brickyard Park and Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will administer the grant through the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF), which was approved by members of the Tennessee General Assembly this year in the 2024-25 state budget.
“Northeast Tennessee is a breathtakingly beautiful region with excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation,” Hulsey said. “Parks are a vital part of our community and I know these projects will help ensure residents can continue enjoying them in the years ahead. I congratulate local Kingsport leaders for their work securing this significant funding.”
A portion of the funds will be used to add natural surface and skills areas to the bike trails at Brickyard Park, as well as a lighted parking lot expansion with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant connections.
The grant money will also help fund the addition of an ADA-accessible entry walk and event terrace at the nature center at Bays Mountain Park, in addition to the construction of an otter habitat with ADA-accessible pathways and viewing areas.
City and county governments can receive LPRF grants for trail development and capital projects in parks, greenways and natural areas. Additionally, the funds can be used to purchase land for eligible projects. The state’s funding matches local government investments to help expand access to outdoor opportunities and improve quality of life for Tennesseans.
More than $21 million in grants to 27 communities across Tennessee was allocated by the LPRF. For more information on the grant program, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/environment/outdoorrec.html
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://tnhousegop.org/rep-bud-hulsey-announces-2-9m-grant-to-improve-kingsport-parks/