Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is starting a state Office of Outdoor Recreation after putting $207 million for state parks, blueways development, farmland conservation and outdoor recreation in this year’s budget.
Lee announced the department, within the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will work on conservation to provide Tennessee residents and visitors have more access to the outdoors.
The announcement came at the Tennessee Conservation Summit in Nashville.
“This office will help us leverage Tennessee’s unparallelled natural resources and beauty to improve our quality of life and create lasting memories for Tennessee families and visitors,” Lee said.
Lee announced in this year’s state of the state speech the budget would allow for eight new state parks including Hiwassee Scenic River, Ocoee River, Head of the Crow, Fort Southwest and Cardwell Mountain.
This year’s budget includes $59 million in capital improvements to parks including $25 million for a new visitor center, maintenance facility and amenities at Head of the Crow, $22 million for similar improvements at Cardwell Mountain, $12 million for campground improvements and amenities at Hiwassee Scenic River and $2.9 million for overall park maintenance.
It also included $10 million to expedite the state’s Bill Dance Signature Lakes Initiative to improve infrastructure on Tennessee lakes and reservoirs and $20 million for blueways trail development.
Lee’s said the office, led by Director Brian Clifford, was created with existing resources and blueways would be a top priority, developing high-quality water trails across the state.
“Tennessee is blessed with world-class rivers and fisheries, and our communities across this state, particularly rural areas, want better access to these unique waterways,” Clifford said.
7 Responses
frm www office of outdoor recreation
Coordinate outdoor recreation policies and management with federal, state, and local agencies, and other stakeholders.
Who are these
“other stakeholders “?
Administer grants and align funding opportunities that support statewide goals for conservation and recreation, including administration of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) fund, the state Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF), and the Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program fund (TRIP)
So, this article implies these tasks and responsibilities are not being serviced by the current
Dept of environment and recreation.
Sounds like someone needs to be fired
http://www.office of outdoor recreation
Seek, apply for, and manage grants to fill funding gaps in outdoor recreation projects and programs that further statewide goals andinitiatives.
Ah, expand state government to grub around looking to snatch up federal tax funds
To make Lee’s resume look better
I get it now.
Spot on, just more government intrusion and wasted tax payer dollars!
Lee’s said the office, led by Director Brian Clifford
Well just who is brian clifford?
Who? Ah, he’s a well-connected FOB, aka ‘Friend Of Bill’.
From the webpage of the State Department of Environment and Conservation aka ‘TDEC’ he is “Raised in rural Tennessee, Brian is married to Michelle and is the proud father of two elementary school kids. An attorney by trade, Brian worked for several national law firms before joining TDEC’s Office of General Counsel in 2016. Brian was later appointed as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the state’s Bureau of Conservation in 2019. In 2024, Brian was appointed to serve as the Director of Tennessee’s inaugural Office of Outdoor Recreation. In this role, Brian combines his passion for leadership with his love for the great outdoors to serve the State of Tennessee through conservation and improving access to outdoor recreation. In his local community, Brian coaches youth sports, is elected to serve as a Williamson County Commissioner, and serves on the Williamson County Regional Planning Commission.”
The governor adds another layer to a State agency and makes his friend the leader of same.
The new Office of Outdoor Recreation seems to be not needed. The TWRA is already handling usage of outdoor property for camping, fishing, hunting, et . Why do we need ANOTHER agency?