Swimming in Meadow Park Lake--Allowed or not?

Following discussuions on some Facebook posts yesterday about a group being told by a lake employee that they were not allowed to swim at Soldier's Beach in Meadow Park Lake, I have talked to a number of city officials and folks including 2 members of the Lake Commission and Mayor Mayberry. This is what I have found out. The Crossville City Council approved an ordinance in 2015 that allows swimming in Meadow Park Lake under rules to be made by the Lake Commission. Based on several conversations, It appears those rules have never been made or approved. The bottom line is that except for a few restrictions, swimming is allowed in Meadow Park Lake.

Meadow Park Lake Marina, office and bait shop.

(Photo by Jim Young)

I spoke with Lake Commission member Charles Loveday earlier and he initially said one could swim from a boat and swimming is also restricted within 100 feet of the marina/boat docks by state law due to the electrical connections there. In addition, no swimming is allowed near the dam or the intakes for the water treatment plant at the lake.

Mr. Loveday did some investigation of his own and called me back to say that the employee who told people they were not allowed to swim at Soldier's Beach was incorrect and has been instructed about the situation to correct his misinformation since that incident.

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Lake Commission member Levonn Hubbard also said that swimming was allowed but he did not think the Lake Commission had ever come up with rules on the matter. Mr. Hubbard said that as far as he was concerned with the exceptions mentioned above swimming was permitted in the lake. Crossville Mayor James Mayberry was concerned about the situation and he said that city hall had received a number of calls during the day today concerning the matter. At this point, no city official has said that other than the restrictions about the marina, dam and water plant intake swimming is allowed in Meadow Park Lake.