PINSON, Tenn. — Tennessee State Parks is asking people who use 12 of its parks to weigh in on how those parks should be run for the next five years, and several more public meetings are coming up this week.
In Madison County, Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park held its session Tuesday evening at the park museum on Ozier Road. Staff walked through a draft five-year strategic management plan, the document that guides how a park protects natural and historic resources, keeps up its facilities and serves visitors.
Every state park already has a long-range plan. For this group of 12, park staff wrote new draft goals, and the state environment and conservation department is presenting them at meetings held at or near each site. Each draft covers how the park cares for its land and history, what visitors experience, the state of buildings and amenities, and how day-to-day operations run.
Three meetings are set for Thursday, Nov. 12, each from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. local time: Mousetail Landing at the Farm Bureau office at 106 Polk Street in Linden, Pickett CCC Memorial at the group camp dining hall in Jamestown, and Norris Dam at the amphitheater at 125 Village Green Circle in Rocky Top.
Edgar Evins follows Nov. 16 at its interpretive center in Silver Point. Fort Pillow is set for Nov. 30 at the park museum auditorium in Henning, and Harrison Bay closes out the series in December at its recreation hall in Harrison.
Earlier sessions already took place at Cummins Falls, Hiwassee Scenic River, Henry Horton, Johnsonville State Historic Park and Panther Creek. Anyone who missed a session or wants to add more can send written comments through Dec. 31, 2026, using the department’s online comment form, and the draft plans can be requested from its Bureau of Conservation, Planning and Publication.