State Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Byrdstown, announced today White County will receive a $50,000 grant through the Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program.
The county will use the funding to establish a parks and recreation department and hire its first director. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Outdoor Recreation awarded the grant.
“This funding is a major step forward for White County,” Sherrell said. “It will allow us to create a dedicated parks and recreation department that can plan, manage and expand outdoor opportunities for our residents. I’m thankful to TDEC for investing in our community’s future.”
So far this year, the Office of Outdoor Recreation has awarded more than $22 million in parks and recreation grants to 31 communities across Tennessee.
The Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program provides state funding to help cities and counties that lack a professional parks and recreation director or a comprehensive recreation system. The program supports the creation of new departments to improve access to outdoor spaces and organized recreation.