TOP PHOTO:  Left to right – State Senator Ken Yager, Cove Lake State Park manager Casey Hatmaker and TDEC deputy commissioner Jim Bryson discussed state funding for park capital projects.

By Charlotte Underwood

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – State Senator Ken Yager and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner (TDEC) Jim Bryson toured four state parks in Campbell and Fentress Counties on Wednesday.The parks being visited are getting deferred maintenance funding that both Yager and State Representative Dennis Powers supported in the legislature.  A total of $10 million for fiscal year 2021 was specifically requested and supported by the General Assembly for Tennessee State.  The funds will be used state wide to “tackle much needed maintenance” across Tennessee State Parks.

Another $5.1 million is being distributed across the state as the annual appropriation funds will be used for traditional maintenance projects.

State Senator Ken Yager and TDEC deputy commissioner Jim Bryson discuss building repairs for the visitor center with Cove Lake State Park manager Casey Hatmaker (left) along with District Park Manager Kim Moore (right).

During the visit Yager and Bryson discussed available state resources and potential future projects for Indian Mountain State Park in Jellico and Cove Lake State Park in Caryville.  Both parks are receiving funds.

One of the big projects funded at Cove Lake will be the replacement of antiquated, leaking water lines at the campground as well as building repairs at the office/visitor center.  According to Cove Lake State Park manager Casey Hatmaker, the visitor center needs window replacements due to leaking, as well as other repairs and updates.  Building repairs will cost around $40,000.  The building, which was a CCC project (Civilian Conservation Corps) will be repaired and restored more to its historical look, according to Hatmaker.

Multiple hazardous trees damaged by the Emerald Ash Borer will also be removed from Cove Lake State Park with some of this funding.  Other landscaping projects are in the plans as well.

The HVAC filtration system will be replaced at the recreation hall, among other updates and repairs to the back decking.

Around $18,000 in repairs are also needed at the kiddie pool.

Bathhouse repairs and some resurfacing projects at the campground will also be done.

“We try to do as much as we can in-house, but some of these bigger projects really needed this funding and we are excited about getting these projects done,” Hatmaker said.

Senator Yager said he wanted to thank State Representative Dennis Powers for his support of the deferred maintenance funds on the “House side” of the legislature.

“We knew these parks needed some extra maintenance funds to keep projects going, and I want to thank Dennis Powers for his support.” Yager said.

Indian Mountain State Park is receiving $127,989 in total maintenance project funds, some of which will be used for paving a trail head parking area and maintenance on updating the trail head.  Other improvements will include replacing lighting receptacles and replacing several kiosks.

Yager and Bryson also visited Norris Dam State Park and Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park.

TDEC deputy commissioner Jim Bryson, Cove Lake State Park Manager Casey Hatmaker, State Senator Ken Yager and District Park Manager Kim Moore stand in front of the Cove Lake State Park sign. Yager and Bryson toured two Campbell County state parks on Wednesday.   (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/15/2020-6AM)

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