Kicking off its Head of the Tennessee Initiative, Legacy Parks has raised funds and was awarded grants to acquire the McBee Ferry Landing property along the Holston River, which it will turn into a Knox County park within the next year. It creates much needed access to the Holston River within a 22-mile stretch with no other public access point. Located off the Andrew Johnson Highway on Old Strawberry Plains Pike, the park will be ideal for fishing, boat access and picnicking, and offers a stunning view of the unique McBee Bridge.
Legacy Parks was recently awarded a grant from the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund to preserve and enhance this historic site. The Foundation will use a conservation easement to permanently preserve the natural character of the land, and will create access to its recreation potential by conveying it to Knox County for a public park with access to the Holston River. Pairing the grant with funding from TVA and Knox County, Legacy Parks will improve the scenic property with environmental and shoreline preservation measures and additions including interpretive signage, a gathering space and parking for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The acquisition of this property furthers Legacy Parks goal of creating access points at roughly seven-mile intervals on the Holston and French Broad rivers to make recreational use to these rivers more feasible and enjoyable for Knoxville residents and visitors.
History lovers and will find that this area is significant because it was the site of the McBee Ferry that transported people across the river before the bridge was built in the 1930s. Remains from the operation can still be found along the shoreline. Also nearby along the river, the Civil War Battle of Strawberry Plains took place.
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