House Majority Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison announces $3.5M in grant awards for local parks
House Majority Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, today announced that $3.5 million in state funding has been awarded to the City of Newport for improvements to White Oak Park and the development of the Newport Woodland property.
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), which the Tennessee General Assembly approved in the 2026-27 state budget.
“Improving our local parks preserves our region’s unmatched natural beauty while investing in the next generation,” said Faison. “These projects will give more families in Cocke County a reason to get outside and enjoy what we have. I’m excited to see the work get underway and for residents and visitors to enjoy these new recreational opportunities for years to come.”
The grant will be used to develop the 85-acre Woodland property, including a half-mile accessible multi-use trail with rubberized surfacing, a one-mile natural-surface multi-use trail, a pavilion, play structures, a parking lot, access paths and walkways and other site amenities.
Funding will also support the redevelopment of White Oak Park, including a basketball court, playground and restroom.
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. Jeremy Faison represents District 11 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes Cocke and part of Hamblen and Jefferson counties.
