RICHMOND -- The biennium budget approved last week by the Virginia General Assembly is included in an overall bond package that would provide the initial funding to begin creating Virginia's newest state park along the Clinch River.

State Dels. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, and Todd Pillion, R-Washington, and state Sens. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson and Ben Chafin, R-Russell, on Tuesday announced the inclusion of funding for the Clinch River State Park within the bond package. Kilgore offered the budget amendment in January and the General Assembly provided the funding for the park via H.B. 1344 involving the overall bond package.

On Tuesday Kilgore said the exact numerical amount wasn't specifically spelled out "but it will be somewhere north of $3 million, in the $3 million to $5 million range" depending on development factors such as land acquisition and/or improvements park supporters and state personnel identify and move forward to complete within the terms of the bond package.

Last year the General Assembly provided about $250,000 in planning funds to the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation. The park is strongly supported by local governments, planning commissions, regional tourism organizations and citizen groups.

The Clinch flows southwest from Tazewell for approximately 130 miles across a broad swath of Southwest Virginia, crossing portions of Tazewell, Russell, Wise and Scott counties before coursing onward into Tennessee. The river is one of the most diverse in the world in aquatic species, including some rare and endangered mussel species, and provides exceptional conaoeing, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming and other associated recreational opportunities.

Kilgore said the commonwealth's newest state park will be unique as well because it will be the state's longest and narrowest when all is said and done, and will be a tourism development blessing all along its course in Virginia.

"A new Clinch River State Park is a great way to highlight yet another beautiful area of Southwest Virginia. I am looking forward to this park becoming a reality to expand outdoor recreation and tourism, and to revitalize riverside downtowns in the region," he said.

Kilgore said funding got bounced out of the bond package during the General Assembly's back and forth budget tussle, and while the fight to get it back in was a bit of a struggle, Southwest Virginia's legislative cohort kept at it.

"I am happy to have been a part of the negotiations that finally included the appropriation for the Clinch River State Park with the vision to help the region in the creation of jobs through the tourism industry," Carrico said.

Chafin said he considered it "truly amazing that we were able to work together to get the park funded. This will be a crown jewel in the entire Virginia state parks system because of all the opportunities on the river."

Pillion said the new state park will advance outdoor recreation opportunities for Southwest Virginia.

"The park will provide numerous sites along the river through Russell, Scott and Tazewell for our residents and visitors to enjoy the scenic Clinch River," he said. "Preserving the beauty of the Clinch and continuing to help promote tourism to our bio-diverse region."