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Many Chattanoogans know McDonald Farm as the home of the Hamilton County Fair, but soon, it could become Tennessee’s newest state park.

Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed budget includes more than $45 million to transform ~1,300 acres into a park that would connect Sale Creek to the Cumberland Trail. The funding would go toward new trails, a visitor center, and a possible RV campground, plus $1 million a year for park operations.

The numbers

800 acres in Hamilton County
500 acres in Rhea County
70+ new jobs anticipated
$11 million economic impact anticipated

Hamilton County would still own roughly 800 acres of McDonald Farm, including 250 acres that would remain a county park and continue hosting the fair each fall.

What’s next

The Hamilton County Commission must approve the land transfer, and lawmakers still need to pass the budget. If approved, the park could open in about three years, becoming Tennessee’s 70th state park.