The image shows a proposed plan and what will happen to the natural woodland area across from the current Big Ridge campground and Blue Mud boat launch if the project is completed.
The Union County Commission approved the grant to complete the study to implement this plan at last month’s meeting. The grant is for $104,000 with a match of $24,000. No source for the match was noted in the Mayor’s Report. The approval was done as part of the Budget Amendments and Transfers under Fund 171-Capital Projects.
To learn how this mega development plan materialized, it is necessary to time travel back to 2018. The following appeared on the November Union County Commission agenda:
“Approve/Disapprove Resolution for Economic Impact Study for Big Ridge State Park – Commissioner Danny Cooke.”
At this meeting County Commission unanimously passed Resolution No. 01-11-13-2018. The resolution asked the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Tennessee, to conduct an economic impact analysis of investment in services and amenities inside Big Ridge Park.
In other words, the resolution asked for a study of improvements that would return revenue to the state, regional and local economies.
The resolution also instructed the Union County mayor to share the results with the governor, the commissioners of Environment and Conservation, Agriculture, and Economic Development to work with the state legislators to seek capital investment by the state to implement the results of the study.
During the same time frame, Big Ridge Park was undergoing a massive cleanup by Park Superintendent Keith Montgomery, who had already noted that many buildings were historically significant, but needed upgrades as was explained in a Historic Union County article in February of 2018.
Nearly two years later, there was no mention of the study having been completed; however, the study appears in the Union County Mayor’s Report of September, 2021, as a potential grant with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC-Federal Government). The report notes that the grant could address a “boat ramp and campsites at Big Ridge.”
In November, 2021, the potential ARC grant has become a study for “additional boat ramp, public swimming, public pier, and parking at Big Ridge (Blue Mud).
In the September, 2022, Mayor’s Report, the potential grant is moved to the grant list with funding of $80,000, and remains a study. No results of the study are stated.
In addition, a new potential grant called Bill Dance Signature Lakes (TN Department of Tourism) has become available, which names Norris Lake a “Trophy Lake.” This potential grant is listed as “possible upgrades to Big Ridge Park (Blue Mud).”
In February, 2023, the ARC-Federal Government grant is being administered by the East Tennessee Development District (ETDD) and is awaiting completed study to proceed with planned improvements. In August, the draft report was being reviewed and the study was now called the Big Ridge Master Plan.
By October, 2023, the ETTD report stated that the Big Ridge Master Plan remained in pre-planning, but the engineer had completed the initial draft
What is the engineer draft plan? The plan is the 95 RV spaces, 200 truck and trailer parking spaces along with concession stands, playgrounds and a road to connect these new amenities to Hwy 61; and is located directly across from the current campground and boat launch. The current Blue Mud would be a kayak launch and a fishing pier.
As noted in the ETDD report, the Blue Mud project is very much a part of the Big Ridge Master Plan. But the time for public comment on the state survey, a survey with no details of the new development, closed November 30.
So now what happens? According to Mayor Bailey, the citizens of Union County get to have a voice in the Blue Mud changes. There will be one or more public hearings.
Citizens can call Mayor Bailey at 865-992-3061, County Commissioners (https://www.unioncountytn.gov/county-commission/), and state legislators (https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fml2022/lookup.aspx) to state their opinion.
Citizens can speak at County Commission meetings during public comment, ask questions and offer solutions. Will the improvements help local fishing? What will happen to the current campground? It is time to react!
Historic Union County welcomes your input on this important issue. Please email BlueMud@HistoricUnionCounty.com with your comments.