Statements
Mission
Tennessee State Parks Conservancy supports educational programs, health initiatives and special park projects that preserve, protect and enhance natural areas and the 56 state parks across Tennessee.
Background
The Tennessee State Parks system was established in 1937 to preserve and protect the unique natural, cultural and scenic resources across our state. A well-planned and professionally managed system of state parks promotes stronger communities and healthier citizens by providing a safe, low-cost option for families and individuals to enjoy diverse recreational opportunities while simultaneously preserving natural and cultural treasures for future generations to enjoy.But budgets are limited. With a significant backlog of deferred maintenance projects, and the commitment to keeping Tennessee State Parks one of the only state park systems in the country that does not charge an entrance fee, limited funds are available for programs and special park projects that make our state parks even better. The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy was created in June 2016 to serve as a charitable partner of the Tennessee State Parks system, modeled after the National Park Foundation and many nonprofits supporting state park systems across the country. The TSPC works to raise these funds from corporations, foundations and individuals to provide additional support for programs and projects at state parks across Tennessee.
Impact
We are the fundraising partner of Tennessee State Parks, securing investments to enhance park experiences for all.
We support projects and programs that span multiple parks. We help fill in the gaps for parks that don't have a Friends group, and work in alliance with those that do. Our programming includes:
Parks Accessibility
Tennessee State Parks is actively working towards providing more accessible facilities, amenities, and programs to accommodate visitors with various needs and reducing barriers to outdoor recreation. The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy is dedicated to supporting Tennessee State Parks fulfill this commitment by providing funding for various initiatives and projects aimed at improving accessibility within the parks. Examples of this funding include:
All-terrain Wheelchairs
The all-terrain wheelchairs at Tennessee State Parks are free to the public and will allow children and adults to access trails that traditional wheelchairs might not reach.
Accessible Kayak And Canoe Launches
Tennessee State Parks is installing accessible kayak/canoe launches in several state parks to help make paddling more accessible for people with disabilities. Support for David Crockett State Park's kayak and canoe launch provided by Tennessee Valley Authority.
Kids in Parks
To close the outdoor equity gap, our Kids in Parks program supports Title 1 public schools with funds to cover transportation, making educational field trips to neighboring state parks possible.
With younger generations spending more and more time on screens, it's especially important to raise awareness of these benefits and provide more opportunities for kids to connect with nature. In 2023, our Kids in Parks program engaged more than 91,000 kids, many of whom had never previously been on a hiking trail.
Support for Henry Horton State Park's wheelchair provided by Hays Foundation:
Support for Tims Ford State Parks and Radnor Lake State Park's wheelchairs provided by Tennessee Valley Authority.
Accessible Kayak And Canoe Launches
Tennessee State Parks is installing accessible kayak/canoe launches in several state parks to help make paddling more accessible for people with disabilities.
Support for David Crockett State Park's kayak and canoe launch provided by Tennessee Valley Authority. Construction for this launch will begin this fall.
Trail Assessments:
Tennessee State Parks aims to undergo trail assessment using assessment tools, enabling one individual to collect detailed and accurate trail and feature data at an average of one mile per hour. The assessment will help trail users know the challenges to trails, which would be appropriate for their skill level and the ones that can be accessed by all-terrain wheelchairs. Tennessee State Parks Conservancy acquired one of these tools this summer for parks' use. We are hoping to raise the funds for a second assessment tool.
Our funding priorities include Universal Accessibility, Kids in Parks and Planting for Protection. Universal Accessibility includes acquiring electric all-terrain wheelchairs, accessible boat launches and boundless playgrounds. For Kids in Parks, we cover the cost of transportation and educational materials needed for a classroom to visit a state park. Planting for Protection includes needed native plants and trees that need to be restored to a park or state natural area.
Needs
Like many non-profit organizations, our biggest need is financial support for our programs. Donations are planned for programs like scholarships for children to attend our Junior Ranger camps, funding field trips for students who might otherwise not be able to visit a state park, and building Story Book Trails in our parks across the state. In the long term, we would like to start an endowment to ensure that our programs will continue into the future. In the short term, we want to grow our resources enough to have a robust staff that can raise meaningful dollars to support parks.
CEO Statement
The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy has a special opportunity to increase the impact our Tennessee State Parks has on all Tennesseans. As a supporting organization, we have the ability to raise funds, create programs, and fulfill special projects in the parks-all that draw more residents to nature. Being in nature has proven to positively impact both physical and mental health. It is important for all of us to have an outlet into nature and our State Parks provide a perfect opportunity for everyone to meet that need.
Our major area of focus for 2024 is to break down barriers to state parks that could be physical, cultural or social. We do this by acquiring electric all-terrain wheelchairs, accessible boat ramps and other accessibility tools for the parks and cover the transportation costs for school children to go to parks.
Board Chair Statement
The Conservancy has received many worthy program and project requests that we have been unable to support as a result of our very modest resources. However, in our work, small amounts of funding make a big difference. Through the grant we received in 2018 from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and other private donors, we were able to fund 14 field trips for approximately 1,122 elementary and middle school students (228 more students than the previous year) to visit 11 Tennessee Parks, making a large impact with a modest amount of funding, for which a bunch of school teachers and the Board of the Conservancy are grateful. Thank you for your support! Marlee Mitchell, Board Chair
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Environment - Environmental Education |
| Secondary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Public & Societal Benefit NEC |
| Tertiary Category: | Environment - Land Resources Conservation |
Areas Served
Tennessee State Parks are located across the state of Tennessee. If you are a Tennessee resident, you are never more than a one hour drive from a Tennessee State Park.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Clay |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Cumberland |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Fentress |
| TN - Franklin |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Lincoln |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Moore |
| TN - Overton |
| TN - Perry |
| TN - Pickett |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Van Buren |
| TN - Warren |
| TN - Wayne |
| TN - White |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Bedford |
