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You are here: Home / FEATURED POSTS / State Parks Remain Open

State Parks Remain Open

March 16, 2020 By Dick Cook and Contributed Article 0 Comments

NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Parks remain open and free of charge for outdoor recreation as officials continue to monitor the impact of coronavirus in Tennessee. Time outdoors is proven to relieve stress and improve mental and physical health and is a way to maintain social distance. Local and state parks are useful destinations to find solitude in nature and enjoy the outdoors for solo adventurers and small groups alike.

“Many Tennesseans are going through a stressful time right now, and being outside can help relieve some of that stress and improve our overall well-being,” TDEC Deputy Commissioner Jim Bryson said. “At our State Parks, Tennesseans are able to find solace and joy in nature without compromising good public health practices.” 

With open green spaces and miles of trails, individuals and families can explore on their own or establish a safe distance between themselves and others. Parks provide opportunities for both adventure-seekers and those looking for relaxation and solitude.

There is a State Park within an hour of every Tennessean. The Cumberland Trail offers challenging and stunning trail segments, spanning from Chattanooga to Kentucky. Parks like Panther Creek and Roan Mountain offer beginner to advanced mountain biking trails. Paddlers and fishermen and women can get on the water from Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee to Tims Ford near Chattanooga.

Paved trails near Nashville at Radnor Lake and Long Hunter provide easy walking opportunities for Middle Tennesseans. Birdwatching and wildflower walks can create a setting for a more contemplative experience. Visitors can also use a park as their landscape for a picnic, to read a book or practice photography skills. For more ideas on park experiences during this time, see here.

Parks are taking recommended precautions to provide a safe environment for staff and visitors, while recognizing the need for Tennesseans to practice self-care both mentally and physically.

Tennessee State Parks encourages visitors to follow guidance provided by the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health, and to use discretion based on personal health needs. For more details about what Tennessee State Parks are doing to help keep visitors healthy, see https://tnstateparks.com/about/keeping-visitors-healthy.

Filed Under: FEATURED POSTS, News

About Dick Cook

Dick Cook has lived in East Ridge since the Kennedy Administration when his parents bought a house on Marietta Street. Dick graduated from ERHS in 1976 before going on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he studied Political Science. Dick worked for the Chattanooga Free-Press and the Chattanooga Times Free Press for 22 years. Free-Press Sports Editor Roy Exum plucked him out of production in 1989 and gave him a job as a sports reporter. Dick covered everything from prep sports to the whitewater events on the Ocoee River for the 1996 Olympics. When Chattanooga's two paper's merged, he became the Crime Reporter covering both the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments. He was among reporters who were honored by the Associated Press for the TFP's coverage of the 2002 fog-shrouded crash on I-75 in Catoosa County, Dick and his wife, Cathy, live on Marlboro Avenue where they are seen frequently chasing around their three grandsons.

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