Kinser Park may open as early as mid-March, nearly a month ahead of schedule, and after hard work by the park staff and volunteers. The floodwaters damaged or destroyed 62 privately owned campers, along with outdoor furniture, decks, and grills. A bathhouse belonging to the campground was destroyed, and electrical hookups for many camper spots were rendered unusable.
Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison said that park will be ready for campers and recreation sometime after a lot of hard work by the staff and volunteers.
Water and sewer lines were heavily damaged, and much of the campground was left buried under mud, sand, and debris. Trails along the riverbank were washed out, and there was severe erosion along the entire length of the park property along the river. The park’s manager, Anthony Carter, reported that nearly 400 loads of mud and debris had to be removed from the campground following the disaster. Carter said that volunteers, camp owners, and others all stepped up to help with the cleanup.
The boat ramp area, which leads to a backwater area of Davy Crockett Lake, remains closed as the inlet to the main Nolichucky River channel is clogged with debris.
Kinser Park opened in 1975 through joint ownership by Greeneville and Greene County. Since 2017, it has been solely owned by Greene County.
The park was also awarded a $1 million Community Development Block Grant awarded in November 2024. Those funds will be used to resurface the park’s pool and make it handicap-accessible, install new ADA-compliant playground equipment, and add a disc golf course at the former golf course site. Other potential projects include improvements to tennis and pickleball courts, baseball fields, and lighting systems.
