NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Under Gov. Bill Lee’s leadership, Tennessee has seen the establishment of 14 new state parks, demonstrating his administration’s dedication to conserving state land.

By the end of the legislative session in April, it was highlighted that Lee’s administration achieved a historic milestone in Tennessee by establishing the most state parks under a single administration. Lee expressed plans to continue acquiring land to develop state parks and natural areas.

According to Tennessee State Parks, several sites have already been selected to be future state parks, including:

• Devil’s Backbone State Park, which would include the existing Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area
• Fort Southwest Point State Historic Park
• Head of the Crow State Park, which is currently managed as part of South Cumberland State Park and would join together four state natural areas: Sherwood Forest State Natural Area, The Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area, Natural Bridge State Natural Area and Hawkins Cove State Natural Area

Middle Fork Bottoms State Park opened last August, and North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park opened last September.

Lee called Tennessee “an environment of growth,” but added that to grow, there’s also a need to preserve.

“We are blessed to live in one of the most scenic areas in the U.S., and I am deeply committed to ensuring that future generations of Tennesseans inherit a state that is preserved more thoroughly than ever before,” Lee commented.

Apart from creating new state parks, Lee emphasized the importance of existing state natural areas, specifically highlighting the Duck River, known for its unparalleled biological diversity in North America.

“To maintain Tennessee’s status as the most beautiful state in the nation, we must diligently preserve and safeguard our environment and natural resources,” Lee stated.

In November 2024, Lee issued an executive order focused on preserving the watershed and advancing sustainable water resource management. Since this order, the Duck River Watershed has been a focal point in discussions about conservation efforts.

The “Duck River Planning Partnership,” which consists of employees with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as well as leaders from across the state and other parties who work directly with the river, has examined ways to preserve the waterway.

Meanwhile, organizations like Columbia Dam Now support the reconstruction of the Columbia Dam, which was a civic project almost finished in the 1980s, as a long-term preservation method for the river. Some have argued that the rebuilding of the dam could disrupt the natural environment.