Tennessee State Parks, in partnership with Tennessee Valley Authority, announced a new outdoor fitness area at the Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park across from Sugarloaf Mountain. This area is right after the first dam on the upper section of the river.
"Tennessee State Parks and TVA have worked together for nearly eight decades providing quality outdoor recreation.
This project repurposes a beautiful riverside park to now offer new health and fitness equipment,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill. "A healthier Tennessee creates a better quality of life for all of Tennessee and our visitors."
The property was originally managed by TVA, and the Hiwassee/Ocoee State Park took over in 1996. The area was a park that featured a model of the 1996 Olympics course, that at one time had running water. The model was intended to show what the real course looked like and had accompanying signage.
After many years of deterioration, TVA and the Hiwassee/Ocoee State Park decided to partner and revitalize the area. With Governor Haslam’s Healthier Tennessee being a top statewide initiative, the park decided to add outdoor fitness equipment to the property. There are 10 pieces of equipment that have been added.
Looking ahead, fitness programs will be included to teach park visitors how to use the equipment. For more information about the park, visit http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/hiwassee-ocoee.