NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Timothy Hill, R-Blountville, today announced that $2 million in state funding has been awarded to the Town of Mount Carmel for improvements to Mount Carmel Park.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will administer the funding through the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Grant Opportunity Fund (GO Fund), both of which were approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in the 2026-27 state budget.
“There’s no place like Northeast Tennessee, and this grant will give residents more opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy all that Hawkins County has to offer,” said Hill. “These improvements will make Mount Carmel Park an even better place for families in our community to gather, play and stay active. I’m grateful to the local leaders who worked hard to secure this funding and make this exciting project a reality.”
Funds will support the construction of a new ADA-accessible splash pad complete with interactive water features for a range of ages and mobility levels. Shade structures, seating and accessible rest areas will be installed adjacent to the splash pad.
The grant will also fund the full rehabilitation of the existing basketball court to improve safety, playability and accessibility. Additionally, it will help improve the northeast baseball field to increase field availability and support organized and informal recreational use.
The LPRF provides state funding to match local government investments for recreation projects and the purchase of land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities. The GO Fund supports rural communities by providing grants to cover a portion of the local match requirements for larger grant programs.
This year, TDEC administered more than $20 million to 19 communities across Tennessee through the LPRF and Recreational Trails Program to help enhance parks, natural areas and trails.
For more information on the LPRF program, visit the Office of Outdoor Recreation website here.
State Rep. Timothy Hill represents District 3 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes Johnson and part of Carter, Hawkins and Sullivan counties.