By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Tennessee State Parks officials and Paris Landing State Park officials conducted an informal public input session Tuesday evening to discuss replacement options for the swimming pool currently at the park.
State Parks officials earlier announced that the swimming pool will not reopen. The swimming pool was closed in 2020 and 2021 due to complications related to COVID-19. Reopening the pool is unfeasible due to aging facilities, declining visitation pre-COVID 19 and high expenses, according to officials.
Regional Director Rudy Collins told the crowd that the state has allocated $400,000 for the park to invest in new outdoor recreation activities and asked those in attendance for input. He said those not in attendance also can offer their input online through January 29.
“And we encourage you to think out of the box,” he said. “What would be a good investment for the park?”
Local officials present included State Rep. Bruce Griffey, Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway and Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee Director Rob Goad.
Goad suggested that the parks might consider establishing mountain bike trails, which he said would be a good draw. “You could have more trails for walking and mountain bikes and more water stations for everyone,” he said.
Paris Landing Park Manager Zach Tinkle said the park has been partnering with the county on building more trails. He said a new watering station is at the trail head behind the still-under-construction Nature Center and other improvements are in the planning stages.
Rep. Griffey suggested the parks should invest in an updated stage area and enhance the lagoon near the swimming beach area to encourage more fishing. Griffey said the stage area is outdated and that it used to be a popular draw when the park held Summer in the Park events there.
Tinkle agreed, noting that most performers now requre covered stages.
One person in attendance did object to the closing of the swimming pool, noting that it was an attraction for the park, provided summer jobs and was “enjoyed by many people”. She said it could use improvements such as a concession stand and other amenities.
Among the recent improvements that have been added to the park, Tinkle said, are renovation to the camp sites, new picnic tables, kayak rental facility, restoration of 30 acres of native grasslands. He said the park also is getting ready to open Camp Hazelwood for public use, open The Lodge at Paris Landing in the spring and open the new Nature Center.
Collins noted the new Lodge “will be a real jewel for the area.”
Photo: State Parks Regional Director Rudy Collins speaks at tonight’s session, as Rob Goad, John Penn Ridgeway and Bob Kenworthy look on. (Shannon McFarlin photo).