The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:49 PM
Federal Officials Want To Give Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Facelift
"You can see some of the decay," said Clay Jordan, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Deputy Superintendent. "Some of the greatest needs are in the utilities system under ground, so unfortunately Look Rock isn't going to open this year."
Park Rangers said the park needs $215 million worth of work. The lack of repairs keeps rangers from opening up Look Rock Campgrounds to the public.
"That's 5,000 families who could be here, but can't because of it's closed," said United States Senator Lamar Alexander.
Senator Alexander and Secretary Ryan Zinke spent their day in the park and explained their plan to attract more foot traffic.
"Our proposal, which is bipartisan legislation by secretary request and his support, is to take some of the money from energy drilling on all federal lands and use it to pay for the park maintenance backlog," said Senator Alexander.
Secretary Zinke said the National Park isn't about politics. It's about unity.
"It's an American issue," said United States Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. "Everyone loves the experience and our treasures of the national parks and what we have here is an example of not prioritizing what we love."
While the construction on Look Rock Campground may take some time, work on the Foothills Parkway is already complete. The Lawmakers got their first look at the improvements Saturday.
"I grew up hiking in these mountains and looking at them I know what they look like, I thought, but this view from the Foothills Parkway will be a view of the Smokies that none of us, even those of us who grew up around here, have ever seen before," said Senator Alexander.
Park Rangers said the completed "missing link" on the Foothills Parkway will open up to the public in the fall.
