Fall Creek Falls State Park will hold a Fourth of July celebration, which will also commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary.  This special community event is slated for Wednesday, with activities slated throughout the day. 

“The Fourth of July holiday is a special day for all Americans and we wanted to incorporate some additional elements in honor of Tennessee State Parks’ own special milestone,” said Park Manager Jim Hall.  “We encourage everyone to join us for a day of celebrations and family fun.” 

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Village area, visitors are encouraged to dress in their patriotic finest or incorporating a 75th Anniversary theme / attire, decorating cars, wagons or bicycles for a traditional parade through the campground.  After watermelon and birthday cake, participants will move to the adjacent field for old-fashioned events such as a sack race, egg toss, tug-o-war and other family-friendly favorites. 

The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today.  As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 54 Tennessee State Parks.

Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee.  A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state.  The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state.  When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs.

“Our vision statement highlights the inherent value of our natural environment, along with the value of the many physical reminders of Tennessee’s past,” added Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill.  “Tennessee’s state parks have played such an important role in our history, and they play a critical role in our health and quality of life, which will benefit Tennesseans well into the future.”

Tennessee’s state parks deliver a rich fabric of natural landscapes, wild places, preserved ecologies, outdoor recreational opportunities and protected historic scenes and resources – together representing the heritage of Tennessee in the landscape.

Tennessee's 54 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups.  State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses.  For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 888 867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.

In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation launched an innovative new microsite at www.tnstateparks75.com. Established in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the microsite displays Tennessee State Parks’ rich heritage and showcases the many outdoor adventures awaiting state park visitors through rich media and dynamic content.

Fall Creek Falls State Park has been voted by visitors as one of the top family destinations in the Southeast.  Protected within its boundaries are beautiful waterfalls, tremendous canyons and dense forest.  The park has a 250-site campground, a hotel and conference center and 30 cabins.  It is located 40 miles south of Cookeville, and 65 miles north of Chattanooga, atop the western edge of the beautiful Cumberland Plateau.  For more information or directions to Fall Creek Falls State Park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/FallCreekFalls or call the Betty Dunn Nature Center at (423) 881-5708.