Booker T. Washington State Park is a park situated on the shores of

Chickamauga Lake Chickamauga Lake is a reservoir in the United States along the Tennessee River created when the Chickamauga Dam, as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, was completed in 1940. The lake stretches from Watts Bar Dam at mile 529.9 (853 km) ...

. It was built largely by African-American units of the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...

. It was originally designated under

segregation Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...

as one of two Tennessee State Parks for use by

blacks Black is a racialized classification of people, usually a political and skin color-based category for specific populations with a mid to dark brown complexion. Not all people considered "black" have dark skin; in certain countries, often in ...

(the other being T. O. Fuller State Park near Memphis) until discrimination in public accommodations in the United States was banned under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Facilities

The park has facilities to accommodate all its visitors: three separate picnic shelters that can accommodate up to 60 people, 30 individual picnic sites equipped with grills and water spigots, one group lodge, two bath houses, one wash house, restrooms that are handicap accessible, two floating docks that accommodates several boats, a single lane boat ramp, fishing pier with two shelters at the ends, olympic size swimming pool that is open from memorial day weekend to labor day weekend, three different mountain biking trails, and a basketball court.

Recreation

Biking

Booker T. Washington park is used in many ways by locals as it offers an array of outdoor activities with one being mountain biking. According to SORBA (Southern Off-road Biking Association), Booker T. Washington has three different biking trails to offer. The outer loop is the longest of the three at approximately 3.9 miles, with the first inner loop coming in at a distance of 1.2 miles and the second inner loop stretching out at 2.2 miles. It is also common to see more experienced riders ride all three which come to a total of approximately 7.3 miles. Booker T. Washington state park is popular with local riders because it offers intermediate riders three quality trails, though riders are advised not to ride the trails during wet conditions as they become unsafe.

Fishing

Another popular recreational activity in Booker T. state park is fishing, given its location alongside Chickamauga lake. According to the TWRA, or Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Booker T. Washington state park is open to fishing year round with an array of fish species being available such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish.The Angler's Guide to Tennessee Fish. Nashville: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 2012. Print. The TWRA has taken an interest in Booker T. Washington's fishing potential by creating fish attractors such as the main pier located at the main point of the park as well as the upkeep of shorelines to ensure easy access to the waterfront.

References

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