In honor of the National Park Service's centennial, the McGhee Tyson Airport baggage claim area now offers visitors an engaging view of nine nearby national parks.

Nicknamed "Airport Park," the inviting floor-to-ceiling murals boast picturesue hand-painted scenes but also tons of park details that are useful to visitors.

Great to have so many National Park Service regional leaders and superintendents in Knoxville this morning for the ribbon-cutting!

With nearly 2 million people passing through McGhee Tyson every year, the murals present a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to the beautiful national parks in our region, all within just a few hours drive.

Knoxville has a long history of involvement with the national parks, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said. The drive to create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park came partly from Knoxville civic and community leaders. Schoolchildren across East Tennessee saved their pennies to contribute to the park.

It's impossible to overstate the impact that these national parks have had here, Mayor Rogero said – on our economy, with the millions of visitors they bring every year; on our quality of life, with these beautiful treasures right in our own backyard; and on our awareness of the natural world and our commitment to conservation.

Check out the beautiful artwork next time you're at the airport. As as the National Park Service says on the 100th anniversary of its founding:  Go find your park!  http://findyourpark.com/








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