Carter County Strategic Recreation Plan 2017 – 2022

Carter County, Tennessee

Prepared by Alpha Trace Consulting in association with Bob’s Trails, Trees & Gardens

October 2, 2017

Page 1 of 19 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

1. Executive Summary 3 2. Acknowledgements 3 3. Planning Overview for Carter County 4 4. Background on Recreation in Carter County 6 5. Recreation Needs and Park Planning Efforts 6 6. County wide Recreation and Park Facilities Inventory 8 7. State and Federal Recreation Resources 8 8. Evaluation of Carter County Current Recreation Resources 14 9. Grant Funding Opportunities 15 10. Recommendations for the next 5 years 16

Appendices

A. 2015 Elizabethton-Carter County Parks and Recreation Survey B. FY 2017-27 City of Elizabethton, 10 year Objectives and Actions C. March 2016, Elizabethton Recreation Facilities Report D. 2010-2020 Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Plan E. TVA Watauga Lake Recreation Facilities List F. State of Tennessee Available Grants List G. TDTD, Northeast Tennessee Visitor Center numbers H. Carter County, FY 2015-16, 2017-18 Budget I. Roan Mountain Community Park Long Range Plan J. List of Partner Organizations

Page 2 of 19 1. Executive Summary The Carter County Strategic Recreation Plan (SRP) has been prepared for the Carter County Parks and Recreation Board to review current facilities and programs at the local, state and federal levels. The Plan looks at the changing recreational needs for the future, both for Carter County residents and visitors to this beautiful part of northeast Tennessee. This new Strategic Recreation Plan will serve as a planning tool to aid the Carter County Parks and Recreation Board over the next five years in providing diverse recreational programming and opportunities while promoting healthy lifestyles and improving the quality of life in Carter County. In addition, this document will help fulfill some of the planning requirements to secure grant funding for maintenance and improvement of existing facilities and construction of new facilities. Carter County is fortunate to have a strong Parks & Recreation Department in the city of Elizabethton, a highly-active Recreation Foundation in the Roan Mountain community, and a variety of recreation-oriented clubs and associations throughout the county and region with which to partner and collaborate, and a county government and business community increasingly aware of the positive impact of recreational opportunities. As Carter County Mayor, Leon Humphrey says on his website, “Embrace the Future, Celebrate our Past”, focusing on the many natural and cultural resources can help drive county recreation and tourism efforts and one focus is to secure a downtown hotel, which can be a huge resource to capture additional tourism revenue and add to Carter county economic development. Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Kevin Tripplet announced on August 22, 2017 the 2016 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties, https://www.tn.gov/tourism/news/gov.-haslam-department-of- tourism-announce-another-record-breaking-year-of . Statewide, Tourism revenues were up 4.7% to $19.3 Billion with a 6.7% increase to state and local tax revenues totaling $1.7 Billion. Carter County received $2.38 million in local tax revenue which was a 2.4% increase from 2015 local tax revenues. Carter County Parks and Recreation is at a crossroads and by determining what direction the county should go for the future, helps guide that forward movement! It is in the ideal location to promote and market the many recreational assets located here. Data is being collected and it shows that Tourism, which includes parks and recreation, along with greenways and trails, will continue to bring additional, increased economic revenues and new, additional local tax revenue to this area. The health of the citizens of Carter County will be positively impacted through the use of these facilities, both the natural assets and the build environment managed by the local, state and federal land managing agencies providing recreation opportunities. The SRP refers to and is using the City of Elizabethton planning documents from 2011 and 2017 along with parks and recreation data and survey information from 2015 which can be found in the Appendices. There are several other Appendices which include a listing of local, state and federal recreation resources in Carter County. This SRP is for the entire county and looks at the needs of not only Carter County, but also the city of Elizabethton, the city of Watauga, and the Roan Mountain and Hampton communities. There are strong foundations for recreation with the private sector and the local, state and federal agencies in Carter County and any future developments should be based on this foundation. 2. Acknowledgements The Strategic Recreation Plan has been made possible with the help and dedication of the following people: • Carter County Parks and Recreation Board, Kenneth D. Gough, Chair; • Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey • Carter County Planning and Zoning Department, Chris Schuettler, Director; • City of Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department, Mike Mains, Director; • City of Elizabethton, City Planning Department, Jon Hartman, Director

Page 3 of 19 • Cherokee National Forest, Doug Byerly, Forest Recreation Program Manager; • Tennessee Valley Authority, Jerry Fouse, Recreation Resources Manager; and • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Jane Polansky, Scenic Rivers Administrator.

3. Planning Overview Primary Access - Carter County is located in Northeast Tennessee and the western part of the county has quick access to Interstates 26 & 81. These routes provide entry to Carter County and the city of Elizabethton from North Carolina, Virginia and the Tennessee Tri-Cities area including Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol. Other primary access routes into the county from western North Carolina include U.S. 321 and U.S. 19 E North. U.S. 321 comes from Boone, North Carolina which is the location of Appalachian State University. Important State of Tennessee state highways include SR 91 from Damascus, Virginia, SR 67 to Watauga Lake and SR 143 from Spruce Pine, North Carolina through Carver’s Gap. These secondary routes are very important to provide access to residents and visitors to the many recreation facilities found in the county.

Figure 1, Carter County Access

Page 4 of 19 There are two incorporated city areas in Carter County; City of Elizabethton and the City of Watauga, part of which is in Washington County. The city of Elizabethton is a significant provider of parks and recreation opportunities, for both city and county residents. There are two unincorporated areas in Carter, both of which have important functions as gateways. Hampton is east of Elizabethton and is the gateway to accessing Watauga Lake and its recreation facilities. The town of Roan Mountain is the gateway to Roan Mountain State Park and to Carver’s Gap in Cherokee National Forest. Carver’s Gap is a trailhead for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) and this location is visited by tens of thousands of visitors each year. Of special note are the Roan Mountain Appalachian Trail Days, the first week of May and the Rhododendron Festival in June of each year, when the largest natural Rhododendron Garden in the world is in full bloom.

The U.S. Census data for the county population in 2010 was 57,424 and it is estimated that by 2015 the population had decreased 1.5% to 56,502. This decline is a projected number so it may not be a true representation of the actual population of the county. The county is 341.0 Square Miles in size or a total of 218,240 acres, of which 85,896 acres are owned by the Cherokee National Forest (CNF). Additionally, a number of acres owned by the State of Tennessee. While this acreage has been removed from the property tax base, the CNF does provide funds in lieu of property taxes to Carter County.

With the significant natural, cultural and recreational features available to the citizens and visitors to Carter County, the county as a whole needs to partner with the other area Economic and Community Development people to actively promote these features. There is a website for the Carter County Parks and Recreation www.cartercountyparksandrec.com .

While the county population is not very large, there are millions of people with the 250 - 500 mile radius of Carter County. 250 miles is a one-day drive, while 500 miles is a two-day drive. Carter County is one of 22 Tennessee counties that are certified by the Retire Tennessee program and it is promoted on their website. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development numbers for Northeast TN show that 985,595 have passed the I-81 and I-26 Visitor Centers near the county so pulling those people off the Interstate has great potential.

Page 5 of 19 4. Background on Recreation in Carter County Carter County has many significant natural, cultural and historical resources that are easily accessible for visitation purposes with many already managed by different agencies. There are also numerous park areas and recreation facilities that are available through:

• Carter County, • City of Elizabethton, • Community of Roan Mountain • Tennessee Historical Commission (THC), • Tennessee State Parks (TSP), • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) • United States Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest (CNF).

There are also several private facilities that add to the facility inventory of what is available and these private facilities also increase the opportunities for recreation in the county. From the marinas found on Watauga Lake to the Bear Den Resort in Dennis Cove adjacent to the AT, the recreation opportunities are almost endless.

Carter County recreation facilities include city parks, the Elizabethton recreation center, the linear park, ball fields and soccer fields, picnic areas and 8.0 miles of the 9.7-mile current Tweetsie Trail. While it is not technically open to the public, the minor league ball field is an integral part of recreation opportunities that is supported by the city of Elizabethton and the team (a rookie-league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) helps support community programs and events.

The Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation (RMRF) partners with the Carter County Parks and Recreation Board to operate Roan Mountain Community Park. RMRF also works with the State of Tennessee’s Northeast Correctional Complex, Carter County Work Annex (CCWA). The CCWA provides inmate labor at no cost to Carter County to help maintain the Roan Mountain park areas and these partners just recently built a new performance stage for special events, family reunions, church socials and other fun activities for this small community.

The available local government funding in Carter County is highly leveraged through commitments by the many partners though Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) that provide additional dollars and other donations such as labor, materials and supplies to insure successful operations.

5. Recreation Needs and Park Planning Efforts The state of Tennessee has released the 2016 progress report for the Tennessee 2020 Statewide Recreation Plan (TN2020) http://www.tennessee.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/res_2020_plan-update_nov- 2016.pdf . The TN2020 plan is prepared every five years for compliance with the requirements by the National Park Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to have an up to date Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) in order to be eligible to receive federal LWCF grant funds. Aligning with the state goals of this plan provides the county with a greater probability of success in awarded grant applications. In this document prepared in 2015, statewide outdoor recreation needs were researched and are documented and this chart is shown below on the next page.

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Figure 2, TN 2020 Plan, 2016 Update, Page 13 http://www.tennessee.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/res_2020_plan-update_nov-2016.pdf

Carter County recreation needs match very closely with the state of Tennessee recreation needs and demand for new facilities. The 10 year state of Tennessee recreation plan, created in 2010, was just updated in 2016 and confirmed the continued high need for outdoor recreation in the state of Tennessee. In addition, the city of Elizabethton and Carter County partnered together to compile a park and recreation user survey document that was compiled in November, 2015 with final review in December, 2015. The top six activities that are in the highest demand are: 1. Playgrounds 63.4% 2. Picnicking 60.5% 3. Biking 57.4% 4. Fishing 53.8% 5. Nature Viewing 45.1% 6. Hiking 44.6%

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Carter County Parks and Recreation Board needs to follow the state and local priorities when seeking grant funds to maintain, improve and provide additional park facilities in the future. Use of this strategic recreation plan will guide the determination of these projects when applying for grants. Other planning efforts have been made by the city of Elizabethton and include the FY 2017-27 Recreation Plan which also includes the investments made by the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Departments, from FY 2013- 16 and these total $332,300. This document is broken down into three time frames, years 1-3, years 4-6 and years 7-10. The city of Elizabethton also had a planning process several years ago titled the 2010-2020 Park and Recreation Plan. This plan was approved in 2011 and drove the investments made in FY 2013-16. This plan included public input and several committees in the development of the plan. The Elizabethton Planning and Development Department was responsibility for the development of the plan.

6. Countywide Recreation and Park Facilities Inventory

A comprehensive listing of recreation facilities and activities can be found at the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce website: http://elizabethtonchamber.com/pages/sports-and-recreation#Minor League Baseball See Appendix C for the March, 2016 Elizabethton Recreation Facilities Report for the detailed list of the park and recreation facilities that are available to the citizens of Carter County. In addition, the existing city and county park and recreation facilities need to be maintained annually to achieve a high level of excellence with these facilities. Park operations and maintenance is more than just picking up the grass, cleaning the restrooms and picking up the trash. Programming is a strong way for the citizens of Carter County to participate in parks and recreation and help them to lead healthier lives by getting families outdoors or into the recreation center.

7. State and Federal Recreation Resources

FEDERAL The northern portion of Cherokee National Forest (CNF) covers 250,000 acres and the Carter County portion of this is 85,896 acres. This portion of the CNF is managed as the Watauga District with the office located in Unicoi, TN. The CNF is a part of the United States Forest Service, Region 8 and as such, is managed for multiple uses. The recreational philosophy of the CNF is disbursed recreational opportunities such as trails, camping, hunting and fishing and bird watching Another significant federal asset is Watauga Lake, owned and managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); however, much of the lakeshore is owned and managed by the CNF. Watauga Lake provides defined recreation opportunities such as boating, fishing, hiking picnicking, camping, shooting range, and several others. A number of these facilities are operated by private concessionaires. See Figure 3 on page 8.

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Figure 3: Watauga Lake

Figure 4, View from the Roan Mountain AT

Page 9 of 19 The National Park Service (NPS) operates and manages the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) cooperatively with the CNF as the trail is located on Forest Service lands in the Carter County section. The NPS has partnered with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) for over 30 years for oversight and management. The ATC Southeastern Regional Office, is located in Asheville, NC and manages the trail in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. The community of Roan Mountain was designated the 41st Appalachian Trail Community in spring, 2017. Numerous improvements to the AT have occurred, especially that portion of the trail going north over Roan Mountain starting at Carver’s Gap. In the Dennis Cove area, The CNF is studying the AT and the impacts the trail and the trailhead parking area are having on the Laurel Fork Wilderness Area. This study involves the review of the trailhead in Dennis Cove and how to manage day hikers using the AT to access one of Carter County’s many beautiful waterfalls, the Laurel Creek Falls. The NPS also operates and manages the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (OVT) in partnership with the non-profit Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA). The trail, although authorized by Congress in 1980, exists mostly on paper, its development having never been assigned a high priority by NPS. Carter County has a significant portion of the OVT, and the primary muster area for the Overmountain men was Sycamore Shoals on the Watauga River, now within Elizabethton city limits. A section of the OVT is located within the Roan Mountain Community Park and in Hampton Creek State Natural Area. The OVT is found in four states, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The NPS has a Superintendent for the OVT and that position is assigned to Kings Mountain National Battlefield Park. The development of a new comprehensive Master Plan for the OVT is currently under way and that Plan should be available around the end of 2018. A primary purpose of the NPS planning process is to look at the feasibility of actual on the ground trail construction as closely as possible to the original route of the OVT. A Master Plan for Section 1, from Abingdon VA to Elizabethton TN is under development and should be completed in the spring, 2018. Section 2 from Elizabethton to Spruce Pine NC is not being planned, nor are there firm plans for it or the rest of the sections in NC and SC. Also, there are no plans or money for construction of any of the trail except for a few miles in a handful of urban areas in North Carolina.

STATE OF TENNESSEE

The State of Tennessee has several natural, cultural and recreational resources located in Carter County and these include areas managed by the following agencies.

Tennessee State Parks: Roan Mountain State Park

The park encompasses more than 2,000 acres dominated by rich hardwood forest along rugged ridges, and is located on TN Hwy 143 at the base of the majestic 6,285 foot tall Roan Mountain,. The cool, clear Doe River winds its way through the center of the park and supports a healthy population of trout. Wildflowers and wildlife inhabit the hollows and ridges of the Roan foothills in abundance. There are 30 comfortable cabins, as well as RV and tent camping at the 107-site campgrounds. Each cabin has a front porch with rocking chairs, fully outfitted kitchen, full bath, wood burning stove and gas/electric heat. Each campsite has a grill and picnic table and is located near a bathhouse with hot showers. Page 10 of 19 Visitors can hike along the creeks and ridges, tour the century-old Miller Farmstead or enjoy cross-country skiing in the winter months. There are approximately 12 miles of hiking trails and 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails. Difficulty levels range from easy to strenuous. Fishing is a popular activity in the park. The Doe River is cool enough year-round to be home to three species of trout. Native brook trout, as well as rainbow and brown trout, are stocked regularly. The Friends of Roan Mountain have compiled species checklists of flora and fauna found in the park. To view checklists for amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles, please visit www.friendsofroanmtn.org/Species/species.htm. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

This park protects the land that was the location of several important historic events that occurred in the late 18th century. Leaving the English colonies, settlers began arriving along the Watauga Old Fields, in search of a new life on what was Cherokee land. John Carter, one of the primary political, military and business leaders of this era, and his son Landon, built a home, the Carter Mansion, three miles from Sycamore Shoals. This structure is the oldest standing frame house in Tennessee, dating back to the mid to late 1770s. In 1772, leaders in the settlement came together to establish “the first free and independent community on the continent,” four years prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Three years later, the largest private real estate transaction on our continent, the Transylvania Purchase, took place at this site, when Judge Richard Henderson negotiated an agreement with the Cherokee Nation leaders. In reaction to this event, Fort Watauga was constructed in 1776 to protect the settlers from Cherokee attack. On September 25, 1780, Sycamore Shoals became the muster site of the Overmountain Men, which organized in reaction to British Major Patrick Ferguson’s threat to “hang your leaders and lay waste to your country with fire and sword.” The Overmountain Men defeated Ferguson in just over an hour in the epic battle of King’s Mountain, hailed by Thomas Jefferson as "The turn of the tide of success". Many historians believe that the actions of the Overmountain Patriots saved America from British rule and control. Sycamore Shoals became a state park in 1976. The park’s visitor center features interpretive exhibits highlighting the history of this time, an Eastern National bookstore and gift shop, and park information. Located behind the visitor center is a reconstruction of the 18th century Fort Watauga, now the site of educational programs and musters presented by the Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia.

The park’s two-mile Mountain River Trail is located on the south bank of the Watauga River. The trail features interpretive signs detailing the historical events of the area.

The park offers an assortment of living history, recreational programming and events for the whole family from traditional arts and craft classes to military musters. The annual presentation of Tennessee’s Official Outdoor Drama, Liberty!, The Saga of Sycamore Shoals is a popular attraction. Held every July in the 240-seat amphitheater with Fort Watauga as a backdrop, the play tells the story of the colonists who settled in the area during the late 18th century and the significant contributions they made to American history.

Page 11 of 19 The preceding information is found on the TN State parks website, www.tnstateparks.com .

Tennessee Division of Natural Areas

Hampton Creek Natural Area

Hampton Creek Cove is a 693-acre natural area located in Carter County outside of the town of Roan Mountain near Roan Mountain State Park. The Cove is in the Southern Appalachian Mountains between 3,000 to 4,800 feet elevation. The upper boundary is contiguous to the Cherokee National Forest just below where the Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses Little Hump and Hump Mountains. The CNF is where the upper reaches of the Left Prong of Hampton Creek originate. The creek is a prominent feature bisecting the length of the natural area, draining young and mature forests, seeps, and farmland in the cove. The Left Prong is considered one of the most productive native trout streams in East Tennessee and has undergone brook trout restoration directed by Trout Unlimited and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Seeps, which were once the source of drinking water here, are common and often found on mountain side slopes. One such seep forms a small scrub and shrub bog near a low elevation pasture that supports a diversity of wetland species.

Hampton Creek Cove is managed by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) land trust. SAHC is dedicated to the preservation of the ecological and cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachian Region. It employs a caretaker, born and raised at Hampton Creek Cove, who grazes cattle and horses on approximately 100 acres of pastureland. Fencing along the creek and other riparian restoration activities has been implemented to demonstrate the compatibility of natural area preservation and agricultural practices. Past land use is apparent at places like the old Lenoir Shell cabin ruins, where you can see vestiges of a mature grove of butternut trees and remnants of stone walls built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The old field/forest succession at the lower mountain elevation provides excellent nesting habitat for golden- winged warblers, a declining neo-tropical migrant species. Because the area is so important to this warbler, the National Audubon Society designated it an “Important Bird Area” in 2005. The Birchfield Trail follows the Left Prong through pasture and forest making this a very popular birding location. Presently, the trail traverses a northern hardwood forest community on mid and upper slopes where yellow birch, striped maple, northern red oak, and tulip poplar are dominant species. In partnership with the National Park Service and the Overmountain Victory Trail Association, work is underway to connect the Birchfield Trail to Yellow Mountain Gap at the AT, to retrace and protect the historic route of the Overmountain Men

Page 12 of 19 in their march to the Revolutionary War’s 1780 Battle of King’s Mountain. Hiking is also available on the Shell Hollow Trail, which was completed in 2006.

No matter your vantage point on the trail at Hampton Creek Cove, you are sure to enjoy the bountiful history, flora, wildlife, and vistas, which are of Southern Appalachian mountain heritage and beauty unequaled.

Tennessee Historical Commission Sabine Hill Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor began building Sabine Hill between 1814 and 1816, after returning home to Elizabethton following the War of 1812. General Taylor had been one of the earliest settlers in Elizabethton, having arrived as a boy around 1780 when his family migrated from Rockbridge County, Virginia to the settlement along the Watauga River. By 1796, when Carter County was formed and Tennessee became a state, Taylor owned the 1,500 acres of land surrounding Sabine Hill and operated the farm until his death.

Sabine Hill was saved from demolition by a group of local people who bought it and held it until purchase by the Tennessee Historical Commission in 2007. The restoration was started in 2015 and is now completed.

Now that the restoration is finished, it will be operated as a unit of Sycamore Shoals State Park. It is an excellent example of federal-style architecture and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The house is currently managed by Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park through a cooperative management agreement.

Figure 5

Page 13 of 19 Sabine Hill and outbuilding

The Carter Mansion John Carter, one of the primary political, military and business leaders of this era, and his son Landon, built the Carter Mansion, three miles from Sycamore Shoals. This structure is the oldest standing frame house in Tennessee, dating back to the mid to late 1770’s. The mansion was built between the years of 1775 and 1780, while Carter presumably lived in a smaller structure that remained standing beside it until the second half of the 20th century. Although Carter’s past is something of a mystery, one can assume that he came from a notable background when they view this home. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)

The Watauga Tail Water starts below the Wilbur Dam and flows through the communities of Siam and Hunter, the towns of Elizabethton and Watauga, then empties into Boone Lake near Johnson City, Tennessee.

The Watauga Tail Water is considered one of the best trout fishing destinations in the Southern Appalachians. Supporting sizeable fish per mile counts based on TWRA reports, it only seems fitting that the Cherokee Indians would call the Watauga “beautiful/plentiful water.” This 16-mile long tail water receives daily recreational releases of cold water from Wilbur Dam flowing over its numerous shoals and riffles creating a most favorable environment for aquatic insect life and year round angling. Prime dry fly and sight fishing occur from the spring Caddis Hatch throughout the heat of the summer as other streams in the area become low and unproductive.

The best section of the tail water is the TVA designated “Quality Trout Zone” which begins at Smalling Bridge and continues downstream 2.5 miles. The Watauga Tail Water is home to an assortment of wildlife, stately towering bluffs and picturesque farms. From beginner to experienced anglers, the Watauga Tail Water offers great fishing and memory-filled opportunities for everyone.

The TWRA manages 68 trout stocking locations in Carter County on the Doe and Watauga Rivers.

8. Evaluation of Carter County Current Recreation Resources The abundance of resources in Carter County offer residents innumerable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Well maintained sites, picturesque views, clear streams, trails for hiking, biking, and bird watching are easily accessible and offer a wide range of opportunities to “Get Up, Get Outside, and Get Active” for a healthier lifestyle.

Page 14 of 19 The Carter County Parks and Recreation board and its Chairman Ken Gough are to be commended in their wise oversight and visionary foresight through preserving Carter County’s sites of historical importance and providing a mapping inventory of their location. The board, which meets 8 times per year, prioritizes existing and proposed park and recreation opportunities within a limited budget but has the support of volunteers, charitable organizations, public groups, and local and state resources to carry out its charter. Their funding is multiplied through the use of partnerships like the Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with groups like the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society (TOS) and the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Southern Off Road Bike Association (SORBA). See Appendix J for a list of Partner Organizations with which MOUs are currently in place. Additional MOU’s will be executed in the future with other groups to leverage the Carter county parks and recreation budget.

9. Grant Funding Opportunities Federal Grant Opportunities There are a number of federal grant opportunities, to find them all, go to www.Grants.gov . Two specific grants that could be used by Carter County for parks and recreation would be the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). ARC: This grant program is targeted at the Appalachian Region in several states and numerous counties. The local contact for ARC grants is the First Tennessee Development District located in Johnson City, TN. An example of an ARC funded grant is the development of recreation facilities at the Doe Mountain Recreation Area in Johnson County. RTP: These grant funds are provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the source of the RTP funds is the federal gas tax used by Off Highway Vehicles which include off road motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles, Side by Side vehicles and full size four wheel drive vehicles. These funds are subdivided into three categories, Non-motorized trails receive 30% of the funding, Motorized trails receive 30% of the funding and Diverse Use trails receive 40% of the funding. Diverse Use trail projects should be more than one use, and may be either non- motorized, motorized or a combination of the two types of trails. Though this funding is provided by the FHWA, each state administers the funding and distributes the funding though a state agency. For Tennessee, the RTP is administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Recreation Services Division (RES). TDEC-RES currently has a two year grant cycle, and TENTATIVELY, the next grant cycle will be announced late 2017 with grant application due in the Spring of 2018. The TDEC-RES grant application process is evaluated at the end of each cycle and the application form is adjusted to meet the needs and demands for trails across the state of Tennessee. There

Page 15 of 19 are approximately $1.6 million available per year though the RTP. The RTP grants cover 80% of project costs with the remaining 20% in matching funds being provided by agencies who receive a grant award. 30% of the funding is for Non-motorized trails, 30% for Motorized trails and 40% is for Diverse Use trails, which is more than one type of use. In August, 2016 Governor Bill Haslam award $1.9 million in RTP grant funds to 12 projects. See http://tn.gov/environment/news/44466 for the Press Release about these grant fund awards.

State Grant Opportunities

TDEC-RES also administers the state funds for the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF). These funds are available for land acquisition, the development of indoor and outdoor park and recreation facilities, and greenways and trails. The LPRF grants provides 50% of project costs, as identified in the grant application, with the grant awardee providing the other 50% of the matching funds for the project. For Tennessee, the LPRF is administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Recreation Services Division (RES). TDEC-RES currently has a two year grant cycle, and TENTATIVELY, the next grant cycle will be announced late 2017 with grant application due in the Spring of 2018. In August 2016, $15.5 million in LPRF grant funds were awarded by Governor Bill Haslam to 55 communities across the state of Tennessee. See http://tn.gov/environment/news/44466 for the Press Release about these grant fund awards. See Appendix F for a listing of State of Tennessee Grant Opportunities through various agencies and organizations.

10. Recommendations for the next 5 years The following recommendations are made for consideration by the Carter County Parks and Recreation Board to consider and implement as opportunities present themselves: 1. Continue to work with Elizabethton Parks and Recreation to look for mutually beneficial park and recreational opportunities. 2. Build on current Master Recreation Plan to capture grant funding and work with county offices and partners to administer grant appropriations and develop plans for grant sponsored locally budgeted projects. 3. Work with the Tennessee Department of Health and its representatives to provide facilities, programs and services that impact current community levels of diabetes, obesity, and smoking for all ages

Page 16 of 19 4. Expand the use of Memorandums of Understanding and Operating Agreements with other user groups for support and volunteer efforts in building, operating and maintaining future parks and recreational opportunities. 5. Find ways to connect the county’s assets with adjacent communities and their recreational assets to build the web that make the region a national destination for outdoor opportunities by working with the Regional Recreation Task Force under the new Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership. 6. Recreation projects for the future of Carter County require vision and determination amply demonstrated by local government, public and private partners. 7. Make infrastructure investments and easement acquisitions to create a safe route for the Carter County Tweetsie Extension Phase 2 to the Roan Mountain Community Park 8. Partner with the OVTA and other regional entities as appropriate to further develop the Overmountain Victory Trail from Abingdon Va. to Sycamore Shoals upon completion of the Section 1 Master Plan. Advocate with the OVTA and NPS the need to accomplish a second section of the OVT Master Plan from Sycamore Shoals to Spruce Pine NC. 9. Re-purpose a city-owned former waste site as a mountain biking park for all level of users and connect it to the Tweetsie Trail 10. Building a multi-use sports and recreational complex. 11. Continue to develop pocket parks as opportunities and partners arise. Pocket parks can be community focused (Roan Mountain Community Park) or User capability focus (e.g Green Bridge Landing for whitewater paddlers, a birding park, the Watershed Trails for mountain biking). 12. Continue to determine and mark additional cycling routes across Carter County. 13. Work with State, City and partners to further improve special needs park and recreation opportunities. Make all park facilities ADA accessible. 14. Develop historical trails mapping and marking by preparing and printing a comprehensive map & guide of trails in Carter County 15. As funds are available, conduct recreation events for the county citizenry including but not limited to birding, disc golf, fishing, shooting, and other festivals or tournaments. 16. With local, state and national partners, improve access to Carter County's world- renowned whitewater streams. 17. With local, state and national partners, improve access to Carter County's fishing streams. 18. With local, state and national partners, improve and expand multi-use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. 19. With local, state and national partners, develop a shooting sports park.

Page 17 of 19 20. Aggressively and pro-actively engage the public and recreational partners to identify additional recreational opportunities.

Conclusion

Alpha Trace Consulting and Bob’s Trails, Trees, and Gardens are proud to be a part of the Carter County Strategic Recreation Plan 2017-2022. The links between wise land use planning for recreational purposes, strategic economic initiatives, and community health have been reliably shown in this document and are firmly supported by various agencies of the State of Tennessee. Few rural counties in the state have Parks and Recreation Boards or have developed Strategic Plans for recreational development as has Carter County. Many other communities possess similar beauty and economic challenges but have not addressed the positive impact of recreational planning as has Carter.

It is our intention that the Carter County Strategic Recreation Plan serve as a foundation for future master planning and development opportunities for Carter County. While the process of developing a Strategic Recreation Plan is complex, the set of management strategies and promotion of accessibility to natural resources outlined in the plan will ensure the welfare of residents and visitors to this unique mountain region.

Appendices are provided as separate documents.

Page 18 of 19 I. Roan Mountain Community Park Long Range Plan J. MOU List of Partner Organizations

Page 19 of 19