A new state park is taking shape north of Chattanooga, and the public is being invited to help guide what comes next.

Tennessee State Parks officials are asking residents, outdoor users, and community members to attend an open house on Thursday, July 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Harvest Barn at McDonald Farm, located at 16705 Coulterville Road in Sale Creek.

The meeting is designed to gather input for the park’s master plan as a significant portion of McDonald Farm is transformed into a new state park near Graysville. Approximately 1,300 acres in Hamilton and Rhea counties will be transferred to the State of Tennessee for the project. With existing state-owned parcels included, the future park is expected to total about 2,500 acres.

For 423 readers, this is a major outdoor and community-development story. A new state park could bring expanded access to trails, open space, conservation areas, family recreation, and regional tourism while preserving a large landscape in one of Southeast Tennessee’s growing areas.

The open house gives residents a chance to weigh in early on what they would like to see in the park, from trail access and parking to natural-resource protection, programming, and visitor amenities.

As the project moves forward, McDonald Farm could become one of the region’s most important new public outdoor spaces — and the July 16 meeting is the first key opportunity for the community to help shape its future.