KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The National Park Service said it would support two East Tennessee projects aimed at improving access to miles of riverways.
The park service said Wednesday it would provide recreation, conservation and economic development help for 10 projects across the Southeast. A few of those projects are in East Tennessee — including the Nolichucky River Blueway project and the Pellissippi Blueway project.
The Nolichucky River flows through the Appalachian mountains from North Carolina into Tennessee, ending at the French Broad River. The Nolichucky Wildlife Management Area extends from a dam near Greeneville and attracts boaters and birders alike.
The Nolichucky River Blueway project was proposed by the Greene County Partnership. The National Park Service said it would evaluate existing access to the area and help guide the development of a water trail on the river. The park service said a water trail would help create a sense of "connectivity and collectivity" in river communities.
The project would include putting up signs, sharing information and providing educational messages to help people navigate the river area. The NPS said it would give expertise on water trail planning and help facilitate public engagement.
The Pellissippi Blueway project aims to create a 26-mile water trail for paddlers, fishers, boaters and rowers who already regularly use the Clinch River. The project leaders already have a blueprint that outlines the long-term management of the trail, but NPS said the group is striving "for even greater recreational access while promoting safety and education through new informational materials and signage."
The NPS said it would provide help with community engagement, water trail plan development and process facilitation to make sure the waterway between Oak Ridge and Knoxville can continue to be used for future generations.
The park service also said it would help pursue the creation of a multi-use greenway from the Lookout Valley area to downtown Chattanooga, meant to provide an alternative transportation option. The National Park Service said it would lend help with landscape architecture and overall project facilitation for the project.
