Booker T. Washington State Park (Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Booker T. Washington State Park |
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Group Lodge at Booker T. Washington State Park
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| Type | Tennessee State Park |
| Location | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Area | 353 acres (1.43 km2) |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Open | Year round |
Booker T. Washington State Park is a large park covering about 353 acres. It sits right on the edge of Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee. This park was mostly built by African-American groups from the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was a special program during the 1930s that helped people find jobs.
The park was first set up during a time when public places were separated by race. It was one of two Tennessee State Parks meant for African Americans. The other park was T. O. Fuller State Park near Memphis. This separation ended when a law called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discrimination illegal. Now, Booker T. Washington State Park welcomes everyone.
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What Can You Do at Booker T. Washington State Park?
This park has many cool things for visitors to enjoy. It offers lots of ways to have fun outdoors. You can find places to have picnics, go biking, or try fishing.
Picnic Spots and Group Areas
The park has three separate picnic shelters. Each shelter can hold up to 60 people. There are also 30 individual picnic spots. Each spot has a grill and a water faucet. For bigger groups, there is a special group lodge.
Restrooms and Boat Access
You will find two bath houses and one wash house. The restrooms are easy for everyone to use. If you like boating, there are two floating docks. These docks can hold many boats. There is also a single lane boat ramp to launch your boat.
Swimming and Sports
The park has a big swimming pool. It is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. You can also play basketball on the court.
Fishing Fun at Chickamauga Lake
Fishing is a very popular activity here. The park is right next to Chickamauga Lake. You can fish all year long. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) helps keep the fishing good. They have even added fish attractors. These are special spots where fish like to gather. The main pier is one of these spots. They also keep the shorelines clear for easy access.
You can catch many kinds of fish here. Some common types include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and striped bass. You might also find black crappie, white crappie, and different kinds of catfish.
Mountain Biking Adventures
Booker T. Washington State Park is great for mountain biking. The Southern Off-road Biking Association (SORBA) says there are three different trails.
- The longest trail is the outer loop. It is about 3.9 miles long.
- The first inner loop is 1.2 miles long.
- The second inner loop stretches for 2.2 miles.
Experienced riders often ride all three loops. This makes for a total ride of about 7.3 miles. These trails are good for intermediate riders. It is best not to ride them when it's wet, as they can become unsafe.
Where is Booker T. Washington State Park?
The park is located in Harrison, Tennessee. This is a small town near Chattanooga.
How to Get There
You can reach the park from I-24 or I-75. 1. Take State Route 153. 2. Then, turn onto State Route 58 North. 3. Finally, turn onto Champion Road. The park will be on your left side.
Park Hours
Booker T. Washington State Park is open every day of the year. You can visit from 7 AM until sunset.
