Tennessee State Parks Announce Opening of 56th State Park; Seven Islands State Birding Park

Over 160 Bird Species Identified at Seven Islands State Birding Park

Knoxville, TN – Tennessee State Parks is pleased to announce the newest addition to the parks system, Seven Islands State Birding Park. State and local officials attended the official opening of the 56^th state park Tuesday in Knoxville.

Seven Islands State Birding Park offers activities including observation, hiking and a small boat launch for canoes and kayaks. The property is adjacent to the French Broad River and aquatic and riparian habitats support an impressive diversity of wildlife species. Over 160 species of birds have been identified.

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TDOT and TWRA Partner to Launch Park and Float Program

Program to Provide Improved Access to Tennessee Rivers and Streams

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency are excited to announce the launch of a new program designed to improve access to Tennessee’s waterways. The Park and Float Program will increase recreational opportunities across the state by providing parking areas and access points at rivers and streams along the state’s roadways.

Under the Park and Float initiative, TDOT and TWRA established a list of candidate streams and rivers for the program. Some of the locations have been created at existing bridges, while others will be created when a TDOT bridge project is initiated on a stream or river on the Park and Float candidate waters list. Many of the newly created access areas will require minimal construction because bridge projects often have haul roads that will simply be left in place. [Read more]