Accomplishments

Accomplishments

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DEVILSTEP HOLLOW CAVE AND HEAD OF SEQUATCHIE SPRING

The Devilstep Hollow tract (394-acres) officially transferred to the State of Tennessee in April, 2008. Thank you to the State and all our donors who made this project possible! The site is currently closed to the public while archaeological and other site assessments are conducted.

Devilstep Hollow Cave and the Head of the Sequatchie Spring are natural and historic Tennessee treasures with national significance. This land is important for its unique geology, archeology, history, ecology, and scenery.

Travel up the Sequatchie Valley, along the Sequatchie River, to its extreme northern end. The craggy pine-topped escarpments of the Sequatchie Valley rapidly close in from either side upon the pastoral scene.

The river valley narrows from four miles wide in the south to this gushing mountain stream and the half-mile wide by three mile long canyon, which is Devilstep Hollow. Here is

the River’s source, Head of the Sequatchie Spring. Here, also, is Devilstep Hollow Cave, a nationally significant archeological and geological wonder. Beyond, the inspiring Crab Orchard Mountains continue northward and include the national natural landmark that is Grassy Cove.

Why save Devilstep Hollow?

For its alluring scenery alone. This land should be conserved. The gorge that is Devilstep Hollow, the cave, the mountain pastures, the forested mountain sides of Dorton’s Knob, the gushing Head of Sequatchie Spring and Selby Creek are on this property.

To preserve this key component of a larger geologic site. The cave drains Grassy Cove, a national natural landmark, a karst valley – which is the largest sinkhole in North America at 8 miles long by 3 miles wide and one of the most interesting karst features in the world. It is the hollowed-out center of a large anticline and resembles a volcanic caldera, a great mountain with a large depression in the center. Streams drain from the surrounding mountains 1,000 feet taller than the surrounding Cumberland Plateau with no outlet except the drain which is the valley floor. These streams re-emerge from Devilstep Hollow and Head of the Sequatchie on this property.

To preserve Head of Sequatchie Spring. The fountainhead that helps form Tennessee’s Sequatchie River Valley gushes forth with almost the full force of the Sequatchie River on this land. This valley is a geologic wonder, visible from space. It is the most spectacular physiographic expression of a breached anticline in the United States. Once erosion wore through the sandstone caprock, it cut into the softer limestone over millions of years to excavate a linear valley a thousand feet below the level of the Cumberland Plateau, five miles in width, extending more than 65 miles along the axis of the anticline. Follow its northern end to the narrow canyon, one-half mile wide by three miles long, that is Devilstep Hollow.

To preserve Devilstep Hollow Cave. The mouth of the cave is massive at 125 feet across and 150 feet deep and dramatically beautiful with a blue-green pool of water at the entrance sink.

To preserve the nationally significant cave art. In a National Geographic Society study, twenty-two cave drawings dating back more than a thousand years were discovered in Devilstep Hollow Cave. Mythical creatures include images of an eagle being with a weeping eye which is holding a mace and two drawings of woodpeckers incised into the walls that frame the drawings in between the mouth and end of the cave. The footprint of the artist is still visible in the mud floor.

To preserve Tennessee’s history. The land was originally settled in about 1790 by Adam Sherrill, a Revolutionary War veteran who scouted with Daniel Boone. His sister was Tennessee’s First Lady, Bonnie Kate Sevier. Her nephew, the second sheriff of Cumberland County, is buried in the old family cemetery on this property. The family owned slaves who may also be buried here. The property is the site of one of the county’s first grist mills. The land was the setting for a scene in Jubal Sackett, by famous American novelist Louis L’Amour.

To conserve Tennessee’s rich biodiversity. The Cumberlands have been designated one of 12 BioGems world-wide by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The property is important to Tennessee and has documented species richness in the State Wildlife Action Plan. The river’s cold waters support trout. Native fish are found in these waters that are found nowhere else in the world. Critical to protecting the headwaters and water quality of the Sequatchie River, these waters supply the community of Dunlap downstream.

To provide a vital link and destination for the Cumberland Trail. This natural treasure will be an international destination as part of the Cumberland Trail State Park. Cabins on the property will provide a hostel for long-distance hikers on this 300-mile-long trail.

To support the larger initiative to preserve the Cumberland region’s key attractions. This land supports existing state and regional plans, the Tennessee State Recreation Plan, and the Cumberland National Heritage Corridor as a scenic eco-tourism attraction. This site is important for sustaining our quality of life and economy.

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2007

We acquired Devilstep Hollow Cave and Head of Sequatchie Spring for $1.9 million. Devilstep Hollow and Head of the Sequatchie Spring are nationally significant archeological, geological and scenic wonders located on a 394-acre tract in Cumberland County, 12 miles south of Crossville. One of the most significant aspects is Devilstep Hollow Cave. This natural cavern opens 125 feet across and sinks 150 feet below the surface. The cave is recognized as an archeological wonder by the National Geographic Society for the twenty-two (22) petroglyphs and pictographs, dating back over a thousand years to the times of the Woodland Indians. This acquisition will also enable the Cumberland Trail to be rerouted through Devilstep Hollow, offering hikers from all over the world a unique destination point along the trail. (This property was transferred to the State of Tennessee in April, 2008.)

We accepted the following Conservation Easements (a voluntary legal contract whereby a landowner places permanent restrictions on the future uses of some or all of the property to protect scenic, wildlife, or agricultural resources):

95-acres at Sewanee in Grundy and Marion Counties;
133-acres at Shoal Creek at convergence with Clear Fork River in Morgan County;
75-acres at the headwaters of the Emory River in Morgan County;
100-acres at Heron Hill adjacent to Watt’s Bar Lake in Roane County; and
465-acres in Jackson County on Blackburn Fork, a designated State Scenic River.

We donated 92 acres to Putnam County to create the Merle Osborn Nature Preserve. This hillside tract includes creek frontage, an abundance of bird habitat, and ample room for a birding or wildlife viewing trail.

We received a land gift of 63 acres in Morgan County. This tract has significant natural, scenic, and open space conservation values. It is outside national park boundaries but borders protected land adjacent to the Obed River, which is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

We awarded $21,071 to fund 11 new greenway and trail projects across Tennessee through our State Park Connections small grants program. These grants may be monetarily small but they inspire, and empower people from all walks of life who are involved in parks and recreation, planning, state parks, and conservation to create great outdoor recreation projects in their communities. Funding for these grants are made possible through the generous support of Janie and Ric Finch in honor of Janie’s parents, Howard and Winnie Cooper; with additional funding provided by Bill and Rita Bruce, formerly of Smithville; The Boeing Company; and John Noel and Melinda Welton.

Thank you to our generous sponsors! You make these great projects possible!

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Natural Areas - Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area, $2,110. Replace decayed stairs/wooden steps and maintain trail up to safety standards for visitors. Build and install interpretive kiosk and reblaze trail and install permanent trail signage to accessible waterfall spot from parking lot. Install boulder to block vehicle access.
Friends of the Cumberland Trail, $2,500. To produce 2,000 trail maps and 13 kiosk displays for three new sections of the Cumberland Trail State Park – North Chickamauga Creek, Laurel-Snow, and Piney River.
Pickett Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Memorial State Park, $2,500. To purchase an information/interpretive kiosk for visitors which would be located at Visitor's Center in the park.
City of Algood, $2,500. To purchase three 6-foot benches and concrete pads, install benches on sidewalk connecting city with Algood School for resting on walks and memorial in honor of Howard and Winnie Cooper longtime residents of Algood.
Henry Horton State Park, $1,500. To extend the Duck River Scenic Trail to loop back to campground through newly acquired land. Grant will purchase supplies and materials for trail construction and two bridges crossing over washout areas.
Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association, $1,000. To build safe river access on the Harpeth River within the Harpeth River State Park. This adds to the Harpeth River Blueway Trail. Native plantings will be used to help riverbank erosion.
Burgess Falls State Natural Area, $1961.40. To purchase materials to refurbish existing picnic tables and replace parts with recycled plastic lumber, thus reducing staff time in repainting or replacing wooden benches and tables located in the Native Butterfly Garden and Picnic Shelters.
Cumberland Trail Conference, $1,000. To cover materials cost and construction of ten mile section of trail in remote part of Campbell and Scott Counties on the Cumberland Trail at Cove Lake and Frozen Head State Park which includes building rock steps, retaining walls, and footbridges.
T.O. Fuller State Park, $2,500. To construct a new trail from Riverport Road to McKellar Lake providing scenic views of wildlife with bird watching area, plants and waterfront within Memphis citylimits. Trail will be handicap accessible with plant/tree identification signs.
Greater Memphis Greenline, Inc., $1,000. To provide funding for preparation of Master Plan for proposed 13-mile multi-use urban park/trail.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Tumbleweed Wildlife Management Area, $2,500. To help with land acquisition costs of the Escanaba Tract at Tumbleweed WMA.

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2006

Plateau Properties made a land gift of 300 acres on Brady Mountain in Cumberland County in memory of trail advocate Bob Brown, and co-founder Arthur Harrison, that includes a segment of the Cumberland Trail and a historic cave; a 58-acre gorge on White Oak Creek within Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area was given to the Foundation to protect stunning bluffs with 17 archeological sites; Adventist Health Systems donated a 20-acre forested uninhabited island in the heart of Nashville’s Cumberland River; a 400-acre conservation easement on Turnbull Creek in Dickson County will permanently protect this scenic and ecologically sensitive tract in an area under intense development pressure; over 370 acres of rolling farmland with frontage along Big Bigby Creek in Maury County were protected through a conservation easement; a 63-acre tract in Morgan County was donated that includes open fields and wooded areas, and a picturesque hemlock-shaded creek that borders the Obed River; Stillhouse Hollow Falls, a 75-foot-high waterfall located in the center of 90.35 acres in Maury County near Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, was designated a State Natural Area by the Tennessee General Assembly and was officially opened to the public on June 3, 2006; and a 200-acre conservation easement adjacent to Hawkins Cove State Natural Area and the Mountain Goat Trail in Franklin County protects rare and threatened species including Cumberland Rosinweed and eared goldenrod.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2006:

Friends of Beaman Park. $2,000 – to construct a footbridge linking the nature trail to the nature center.
Cumberland Trail Conference. $2,000 – to extend the Cumberland Trail 28 miles from Frozen Head State Park.
Cumberland Trail State Park. $2,000 – to purchase computer equipment and produce a trail brochure.
Duck River Blueway. $2,000 – to produce a Duck River Canoe trail guide and map.
Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, Overmountain Victory Trail Association. $1,500 – to construct the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association, Harpeth River State Park. $2,000 – to improve the river banks and to construct access to the Harpeth River.
Henry Horton State Park. $2,000 – to construct a connector trail from the Wilhoite Mill Trail to the campground.
Johnson County Trails Association. $1,500 – to construct the first segment of the 87- mile multi-use trail in the Cherokee National Forest.
University of Memphis, Link Farm. $1,500 – to produce an archaeological survey of Duck River Cache.
Pickett State Park. $1,500 – to purchase GPS equipment to map new trails at Pogue Creek State Natural Area.
Riverwoods, City of Germantown. $1,600 – to construct a boardwalk and footbridge to the wetlands area.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area. $2,000 – to construct protective fencing at Stillhouse Hollow Falls overlook.
Swan Conservation Trust. $2,000 – for consulting and planning fees to create a connector trail to Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area.
WATeR, Tellico Reservoir. $1,500 – to construct a lakeshore trail and footbridge.
Wolf River Harbor, Maria Montessori School. $1,600 – to build a boardwalk through a preserved wetlands area.

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2005

We accepted an easement of 51.6 acres in Shelby County (near Memphis) which will only grow more valuable as an oasis for wild things between sprawling communities near to the Mississippi River and the flyway that functions for the world’s long-distance winged travelers, migrating between North and South America. This forested land is downstream from Herb Parsons Lake in the ecologically significant Wolf River watershed; we completed a 121-acre easement which borders the Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area in Lawrence County. This beautiful land is forested and wet with streams surrounded by public land on three sides; Executive Director, Kathleen Williams, received a 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from Greenways for Nashville, a coalition of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; and we completed our first key land acquisition in the Mississippi River Natural and Recreational Corridor – a 269-acre tract near Memphis on the Mississippi River which includes wetlands, forests, an island at Hickman Bar, a stretch of Chickasaw Bluff, and a small lake – all within six (6) miles of downtown Memphis. This $513,834 project was made possible through a $50,000 grant from NAWCA.

The following State Park Connections grants for Middle Tennessee were awarded in 2005:

Tims Ford State Park, $2,000 to create a 3-4 mile trail, through a hardwood forest, adjacent to creeks, to connect the campground to the visitor center in this 1000-acre park.
Cumberland Trail Conference, Big Dig 2006, $1,000 to complete the last five miles of trail in northern Hamilton County to open the Rock, Possum, and Soddy Creek Gorge segments of the Cumberland Trail. This will also involve the completion of bridge projects, blazing and maintenance of existing trails, and installing kiosks and signage.
City of Cookeville, Tennessee Central Heritage Greenway, $2,000 to construct a 19 mile first-ever in Tennessee - Rail with Trail to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians along the Nashville Eastern Railroad to connect downtown Cookeville to Algood to Monterey.
Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area, $1,300 to invite public access to the Decatur County natural area through the creation of a 2 mile loop trail, a parking area, and kiosk materials.
Friends of Maury County Parks, $2,000 to design and construct a minimally invasive parking area, signage, and kiosk at the Stillhouse Hollow Falls trailhead to provide safe access for the public in addition to providing important education, historical, and recreational information.
Friends of Short Springs, $2,000 to construct a 50’ cable suspension bridge over Bobo Creek to connect visitors from scenic Machine Falls trail to 90 acres of the natural area that currently lack public access.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, $1,000 to create a trail to connect from the Bunkum Cave overlook to the 125’ x 40’ cave opening which includes building a staircase for safe access.
Friends of Cedars of Lebanon State Park, $1,800 to create a ½ mile long hiking trail loop that will lead visitors through mixed hardwood and cedar forest and around nine different cedar glades. Special interpretive signage will be placed at each site. Spring wildflower pilgrimages will be offered on this trail segment.
Burgess Falls State Natural Area, $1,000 to purchase interpretive signage to teach about native plants and cultural history along Falling Water Rivers to Burgess Falls and throughout the park.
Tennessee Trails Association, $2,000 to construct a trail to Stillhouse Hollow Falls – a 75-foot cascading waterfall in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. The development of a trail will allow safe public access to the falls.

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2004

We purchased the beautiful Stillhouse Hollow Falls tract – 90 acres located in Maury County. We received a $100,000 grant to hire a Mississippi River Natural and Recreational Corridor Project Coordinator to oversee the master/strategic plan. Kathleen Williams was honored by the Sierra Club-Tennessee with the Mack Prichard Award 2004 for her significant contribution to the preservation of our environment in Tennessee.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2004:

Sunk Lake Natural Area, $1,200 for construction of interpretive kiosk.
Friends of Chickasaw State Park, $1,500 for developing updated trail map.
Mississippi River Trail, $1,600 to trail improvements and amenities.
Wolf River Conservancy, $540, to construct kiosk and signage in Ghost River Natural Area.
V & E Greenline, $2,000, to help construct stationhouse for storage and meeting/picnicking area.
Pickwick Landing State Park, $2,000 trail improvements.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, $2,000 to create trail.
Burgess Falls State Natural Area, $1,000 to improve trails and construct trail shelter.
Cookeville’s Cane Creek Park, $2,000 to create multi-use trail.
Friends of Cumberland River, $2,000 to landscape trail head and create signage at Eagle Pass Trail.
Ashland City Parks and Recreation, $2,000 to fund signage and trailhead improvements at Marks Creek Trail.
Big Dig 2005, Cumberland Trail Conference, $1,000 to fund volunteer trail building project at Rock, Possum and Soddy Creek Gorges.
Spring Hill Battlefield, $1,500 to provide historic markers and trail improvement.
South Cumberland State Recreation Area, $500 to complete the Foster Falls bridge project.
Swan Conservation Trust, $2,500 to help Baggs Land acquisition.
Manchester Garden Club, $500 to construct nature trail in May Prairie.
Narrows of the Harpeth State Park and Newsom’s Mill, $1,000 for interpretive signage.
Lookout Mountain Land Trust, $500 to complete Guild-Hardy Trail linking Lookout Mountain to Chattanooga Greenway.
Frozen Head State Park, $1,000 to create interpretive displays at Bird Mountain Trail.
Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park, $1,000 to construct information kiosk regarding greenways in area.
Smoky Mountain Railroad Trails, $1,250 to implement plan of converting abandoned rail corridor as a trail connector.
Panther Creek State Park, $940 to purchase materials to improve Maple Arch Trail and kiosk construction.
Tipton-Haynes Historical Site, $906 to restore and improve the Andre Michaux Trail.
Appalachian Trail Conference, $1,000 to support ATC land acquisition in Shady Valley, TN.

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2003

Through a generous bequest from Charlotte Ann Finnell Neal, we were given a gift of 500 acres in East Tennessee, located in Bradley County, only 6 short miles from Cleveland and 2 miles from the popular Ocoee River. The land is forested, with small young trees on gently rolling hills and contains a rare East Tennessee wetland. We completed another easement (188 acres) at Clear Fork and Crooked Creek in Fentress County. We have now permanently protected 343 acres adjacent to Big South Fork National Recreation Area. In partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce, we continued our work on the Mississippi River Natural and Recreational Corridor. We developed a concept map and plan, conducted an economic impact and feasibility study, prepared a presentation packet and a brochure that fully explains the project vision and inspires further support and action, and developed the plan for the next phase of work. We accepted a 139-acre easement South of Memphis – the Ruleman easement. We were honored to be named the 2003 Conservation Organization of the Year Award by the Tennessee Conservation League.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2003:

Reelfoot Lake State Park, $1,750 to build a 300’ boardwalk extension to the lake to link the Spillway Day Use Area and the main campground.
Glendale Outdoors/Maury County $1,000 for interpretive and directional signage on the horse, bike and walking trail beside Fountain Creek on the Duck River at Yanahli State Natural Area.
Norris Dam State Park $2,200 for bridge replacement and shelter repair on Andrews Ridge.
Cumberland Trail Conference $2,500 to support 30 miles of new trail construction in northwest Hamilton County.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $1,500 to add another 3/4 mile loop to the existing trail network and for trail signs for North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $1,600 for a 50’ elevated boardwalk, 100’ ground level boardwalk, and upland trail, kiosk and trail maps to areas accessible now only by boat at Ghost River State Natural Area.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $1,400 for 1 mile hiking trail, small gravel parking area, kiosk, entrance and trail sign at Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $1,200 for 1 mile hiking trail, signage, and fenced parking at Couchville Cedar Glade.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $2,500 for new parking area, trailhead, entry trail, puncheon bridge, boardwalks and new trail at Colditz Cove.
Tipton Haynes State Historic Site, $800 for a self-directing trail brochure for expanded, historical, botanical trail that connects to State of Franklin Greenway and Buffalo Trace Greenway.
Cumberland Mountain State Park, $2,470 to construct 3 cable gates, install waterbars, scrape and grade road, install culverts, improve trail access and erect trail signs at Piney Falls State Natural Area.
Giles County Farmland Preservation Trust, $1,000 to help create a Memorial Park in Pulaski for the Trail of Tears, including an interpretive center and plaza commemorating the role that Davy Crockett played in fighting for the rights of the Indians.
City of McMinnville, $1,180 to construct a boat ramp for canoe trail to Rock Island.
South Cumberland State Recreation Area, $2,500 to build two wooden footbridges over two 10’ wide creeks.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, $2,000 to extend walking trail 340’, build a new bridge and replace a second bridge to small island in Watauga River.
Friends of Chickasaw State Park, $1,800 to purchase trailhead signs, two interpretive signs, and five directional signs.
Nashville Urban Conservation Treaty Program, $1,000 for land acquisition at Radnor Lake as part of $1.2 million migratory bird conservation project.

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2002

We helped create Tennesseans for State Parks Coalition, a 33-member coalition of conservation groups to save our State Parks. Through emails, a legislative briefing, press announcements, and “calls to action” our Foundation helped orchestrate support for State Parks and urged the parks reopening that occurred April 22, 2002. In August, we acquired 194 acres in Scott’s Gulf adjacent to the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness Area in White County. In December, we accepted a 32-acre land gift on the Obed River, six miles upstream from the Obed National Wild and Scenic River and only 4 miles upstream from the Russell Preserve. In December, we accepted 155 acre easement at the juncture of Clear Fork and Crooked Creek, adjacent to the Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Fentress County. We also accepted a 22-acre easement along the Wolf River in the very urban community of Germantown. We launched an exciting and innovative collaboration in West Tennessee, the "Mississippi River Natural and Recreational Corridor," which brings together state, federal and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and local citizen groups working together in the promotion and development of the Mississippi River corridor.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2002:

Girl Scout Troop 1928, $500 to build a trail that will run along the Obed River and past two waterfalls on the Obed preserve.
City of Jackson and Greenbelt Conservancy, $2,000 to begin the trail system at Greenbelt.
Friends of Chickasaw State Park, $1,500 for trail construction to connect three popular features of the park.
Pinson Mounds State Park, $2,000 to install a crushed gravel base on three miles of hiking trails.
Wolf River Conservancy, $500 to help reprint the Wolf River Community Guide.
Wolf River Conservancy, $500 to cover costs of land surveys on a recently acquired tract of land.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, $2,500 to help fund the Lower Obion River Project.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, $2,500 to help fund the Mid-Mississippi Alluvial Valley Bird Conservation Area.

2001

Our largest-ever project was to lead acquisition efforts in partnership with the State of Tennessee to protect a spectacular place called Black Mountain in Cumberland County. Black Mountain is a 2,800’ tall mountain on the Cumberland Plateau. Its 518 acres encompass magnificent 270-million year old sandstone bluffs. Black Mountain’s acquisition was also crucial to the 280-mile long Cumberland Trail State Park, Tennessee’s only linear State Park. 3.5 miles of the Cumberland Trail are on Black Mountain and 1 mile on this tract. We accepted the land rights to establish the Charles R. Russell Obed Preserve. This preserve is a wild and beautiful 45-acre tract of land in Cumberland County. The Obed Preserve is biologically diverse, contains endangered species of fish, and has two waterfalls. This easement will allow public trail access.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2001:

City of Norris, $2,500 for trail improvements for the Clear Creek Trail.
Cumberland Trail Conference, $2,500 for land acquisition on the Cumberland Trail in East Tennessee.
East Tennessee Trail Riders Association, $2,000 to create a 50-mile multi-use trail.
Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park, $2,350 to purchase and install fiberglass signs at 30 locations on the trail.
Johnson County Champion Community Board, $2,500 to contract for and conduct a biological evaluation for the Laurel Creek Rail trail in the Tennessee portion of the Cherokee National Forest.
Rankin Bottoms Project of Keep Cock County Beautiful, $1,000 to improve signs and maps at the Douglas Lake Refuge.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, $2,500 to make continued improvements of Hampton Creek Cove.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $2,500 for trail maintenance and signage at Ozone Falls SNA.
TDEC, Division of Natural Heritage, Natural Areas Program, $1,700 for construction of hiking system at North Chickamauga Creek.
Ashland City Parks and Recreation Department, $2,500 to construct a bridge for maintenance vehicles along new Eagle Pass.
Buffalo/Duck River Resource Conservation and Development Council, $1,600 for brochures and signage for a bike trail.
Chimney Park Association, $1,500 to replace trees, erect handicapped accessible bridges and maintain trails.
Cumberland Trail Conference, $2,500 to purchase land from private landowners in Middle Tennessee.
Division of Natural Heritage, $2,500 for completion of the hiking trail system at Flat Rock.
Friends of Beaman Park, $2,200 to purchase of trail building tools and treated lumber for bridge and water bar.
Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, Inc., $2,500 plans to clean up Werner Bluff.
Maury Heritage Land Trust, $2,500 to protect a rare five-acre tract of undeveloped land along the Duck River.

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2000

On November 17, 2000, the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation purchased a 1.5-mile abandoned rail-trail that connects the existing 4-mile Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail to an underdeveloped 4.4-mile tract already owned by the city of Ashland City. The new section of trail is called Eagle Pass because eagles are nesting within eyesight from the trail in nearby Dyson Ditch Refuge.

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 2000:

Cumberland Trail Conference, $2,500 to help fund the two-week Landmark Volunteers Program on the Cumberland Trail.
Seymour Community Citizens Associated, $1,650 to develop a greenway walking trail.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, $2,500 for trail building and interpretive signage.
Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park, $2,500 for trail improvements and signage.
Tipton-Haynes Historical Association, $2,500 to start-up funding to hire a part-time staff member.
Town of Jonesborough, $2,500 to develop a GIS database for regional greenways.
Town of Signal Mountain Park Board, $2,500 to fund three bridges that will create an interconnected system of parks.
City of Clarksville, $2,500 to purchase property adjacent to the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area.
City of Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Department, $2,500 to develop a Master Plan for a greenways project.
Cumberland Trail Conference, $2,500 to conduct volunteer trail building programs to extend the Cumberland Trail State Park between Prentice Cooper State Forest/WMA and North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area.
$1,250 to install an information kiosk and construct several small wood boardwalks at Colditz Cove State Natural Area.
Friends of Dunbar Cave, $1,250 to re-route approximately 600 feet of existing trail into better designed, less-erodable 900’ of trail.
Friends of Radnor Lake, $1,000 to complete an interpretive trail.
Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce, $500 for picnic facility improvements for James Willard Willingham Memorial State Park at Dillon Pond.
Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, $1,250 to build an Octagonal Overlook and boardwalk along the Little Duck River in Dave King Park.
Sergeant Alvin C. York Historic Site, $2,500 to construct a ¾-mile trail connecting the York home to the York Bible School and construction of an elevated swinging bridge across Wolf River.
South Cumberland State Recreation Area, $500 to improve, redesign, and beautify the Meadow Trail.
Wolf River Conservancy, $2,000 to support the 100-mile-long Wolf River Greenway.
Friends of the Forest (for Meeman Shelby State Park), $2,000 to purchase timber and gravel for trail improvements.
Shelby Farms Equestrian Alliance, $400 to support new access to the North end of Shelby Farms.
Friends of T.O. Fuller, $1,000 to enhance hiking trails with displays, directional signs, a 6 ft long bridge and benches.
Pinson Mounds State Park, $1,630 to improve 3 miles of hiking trails and install two kiosks.
V and E Greenline, VECA, $2,000 to construct the Lick Creek Bridge Project.
Reelfoot Lake State Park, $1,630 to connect two park areas with a 300’ long footbridge between.
Germantown Women’s Club, $500 for native aquatic plants and educational signs along the Wolf River.
T.O. Fuller State Park, $500 to construct an additional 5 miles of trail.
Chucalissa Museum, $1,000 for interpretive signs for Chickasaw Bluff Interpretive Trail.

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1999

We started the “Keep the Country in Tennessee” campaign. We hired Stephen J. Small, the national expert on conservation easements, to conduct six workshops across the state to help educate attorneys, estate planners, accountants, and landowners. We also published 10,000 booklets called “Landowner Options… A guide to the voluntary protection of land in Tennessee.” We have given over 9,000 booklets away for free. This program is designed to encourage land gifts by educating people on their options and tax benefits. Additionally, we negotiated and accepted two easements to establish a 100-acre preserve in Maury County (the Kingstree Preserve), and 145-acre preserve on the Nolichucky River (the Neill Farm).

The following State Park Connections grants were awarded in 1999:

Warrior’s Path State Park, $2,500 to fund three pedestrian/bicycle paths to the park boundaries/entrances from the park’s interior.
City of Knoxville, $2,500 for trail grading to create a linear park along the Tennessee River.
Norris Dam State Resort Park, $1,600 for maintenance of the High Point Trail system and Rock Creek Loop Trail.
Cumberland Trail State Park, $2,500 for site surveys on a 100-mile corridor. (East)
Historic Rugby, $1,775 for a historic loop trail to Big South Fork and Pickett State Park.
Knox County, $2,500 for signage, road markings and a descriptive map for an on-road bike route.
Lookout Mountain Land Trust, $2,500 for trailhead construction for the Guild Trail.
South Chattanooga Greenway Alliance, $1,000 to develop a master plan for the Chattanooga Creek Greenway.
Henry Horton State Park, $1,975 for nature trails.
South Cumberland State Recreation Area, $2,000 for trail maintenance.
Mousetail Landing State Park, $1,184 for two pedestrian bridges.
Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, $1,235 for directional and interpretative signage for Little Duck River Greenway.
Cumberland Trail Conference, $2,500 for trail builders to revitalize corridor. (Middle)
City of Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Department, $2,000 trail and parking improvements at Short Springs Natural Area.
Van Buren County, $1,000 for Cane Creek Trail renovation projects at Fall Creek Falls.
Tennessee Trails Association, $1,358 to purchase trail tools, signage and blazing supplies to build new trails.
Pickett State Park, $1,500 to construct a boardwalk along a trail in the campground.
Fall Creek Falls State Park, $1,000 to rebuild two staircases on the Cane Creek Lower Loop overnight trail.
Buffalo/Duck River Resource Conservation and Development Council, $1,250 to install an information kiosk that depicts history of Mousetail Landing area.
Lewis County, $1,000 to make improvements to the Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area.

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1998

In our first year, we led efforts with the State of Tennessee and the national nonprofit, The Conservation Fund, to protect 420 acres that divided 16,000 acres from 3,000 acres at Fall Creek Falls State Park. We also launched our State Park Connections program. We award small grants designed as an incentive for other nonprofit/natural resource organizations to literally create connections between communities and their nearby state parks or natural areas.

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