Tennessee to shutter all 56 state parks

A workout area is taped off in Nashville due to the coronavirus pandemic on April 2, 2020. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

All 56 state parks and natural areas will be closed to the public for 10 days starting Saturday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We decided to close the parks in support of Governor Lee’s Executive Order 23,” state Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers said in a release. “The health and safety of Tennessee citizens is all of our top priority right now.”

The decision follows Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order on Thursday requiring Tennesseans to stay at home for all but essential activities.