Tennessee adds more park land to Fiery Gizzard Trail in Marion County

MARION COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is adding 1,058 acres of park land in Marion County.

The new tract connects more than 7,000 acres in the South Cumberland State Park and protects view fro the Fiery Gizzard trail.

“TDEC takes land preservation seriously and prides itself on providing top-quality outdoor recreation experiences for state park visitors,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation Brock Hill.

The new land is next to the Fiery Gizzard trail which is the center piece to the state park.

But many large sections of the trail and the surrounding bluffs are still owned privately.

TDEC wants to move some of the trail onto the new land.

The Conservation Fund, with transactional support from The Land Trust for Tennessee, purchased the 1,058 acres from landowners Dr. George and Ruby Dixson in late 2016.

“The successful conservation of this land for the Fiery Gizzard Trail is a resounding win for outdoor lovers and wildlife alike,” said Peter Howell, OSI’s executive vice president. “This is an enduring place that truly merits permanent protection, given its critical role in connecting thousands of acres of protected land and facilitating continuing public use of the Fiery Gizzard trail. We congratulate The Conservation Fund and The Land Trust for Tennessee on this achievement.”

For more information about South Cumberland State Park, visit http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/south-cumberland.