Final funding awarded for Natural Tunnel water project 

By KEVIN CASTLE - KINGSPORT TIMES NEWS
Published Wednesday 14, 2005

http://www.timesnews.net/article.dna?_StoryID=3546200

NATURAL TUNNEL - The symbolic gesture of a medium-sized cardboard check awarded to the Scott County Public Service Authority on Tuesday will mean a lot more to visitors to Natural Tunnel State Park in years to come.

Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission Vice Chair Terry Kilgore handed a $250,000 check Tuesday to PSA Vice Chair Judith Babb to use toward a project that will pipe public water into the park for the first time.

Seventy-seven homes in the Glenita, Rye Cove and Natural Tunnel communities will be served by the proposed system, which received its second funding award in as many months on Tuesday.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development opted to give the project $600,000 in June.

Tuesday's gift, which originates from tobacco settlement money dedicated to Virginia in the federal Master Settlement Agreement, will be used to fuel a tourism economy that Kilgore says has been aided by the increased visitors to Natural Tunnel.

"The park is doing great business right now. A lot of that has to do with the (Anderson) Block House development and the other features that park has to offer,'' said Kilgore, who is also a state delegate.

The funding bestowed to the park Tuesday marks the final piece of funding needed to move the project into development after previous financial earmarks were given to the PSA by the Virginia Department of Health, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Lenowisco Planning District Commission.

Park manager Craig Seaver says the presence of public water will allow the facility to loosen its dependence on well water, which has been the park's primary source since it opened.

The project also brings another potential tourist draw one step closer to reality.

As part of a 2002 state referendum that was approved by Virginia voters for the state park system, Natural Tunnel is projected to receive funding for the construction of additional campsites and 12 two-bedroom overnight stay cabins.

Seaver had noted that the plans for expansion at the park hinged on the availability of public water.