The national parks were closed last week because of the federal government’s partial shutdown, but the Obama administration has announced it will allow some national parks to reopen.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the government will consider offers to reopen the parks, but only if the states in question use their own money for park operations.
It’s not clear whether those states would be reimbursed for those costs.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is getting information about the idea from the state’s congressional delegation in order to reopen the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, and Shiloh National Military Park.