KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A $7.7 million grant from the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) will bring a significant expansion, including a 400-foot bridge, to Seven Islands State Birding Park. The Legacy Parks Foundation made the announcement Thursday.

The bridge will be fully ADA accessible and bring pedestrians across the French Broad River. It’ll mark the fulfillment of a 40-year vision to give access to the park from both sides of the river, the foundation’s announcement said.

The bridge itself will connect existing park land to new areas being donated to the state by Pete Claussen and Legacy Parks. That new area includes a 90-acre property with 9,000 feet of shoreline, three houses, an island and a nesting bald eagle, the foundation said.

“The park expansion will res

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