NASHVILLE –The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has honored Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer as winner of the 2018 Excellence in Facilities Management Award for Tennessee State Parks.
“This recognition is extremely significant in that it encompasses the many operations conducted throughout the entire perimeter of Fall Creek Falls, including the grounds, natural areas, trails, cabins, and camping facilities,” said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of Parks and Conservation. “Several facility upgrades, such as fresh paint and new roofs, have been made. Staff has removed many invasive plants in the area around our newly renovated Betty Dunn Nature Center and removed potentially dangerous timber. These combined efforts are appreciated by our millions of visitors each year.”
Parks nominated in the facilities management category were those that demonstrate excellence in the care of their parks and facilities in order to better provide a quality visitor experience. Criteria included facility maintenance, preventative maintenance, grounds and trail maintenance, and cleanliness and upkeep of the park. In 2018, all state parks installed interior and exterior recycling bins, contributing to the overall cleanliness of park grounds.
Roan Mountain State Park was also honored in the Facilities Management category.
The award for Fall Creek Falls State Park recognizes the work of grounds workers, maintenance crew, building staff, housekeeping crew, office personnel, rangers, supervisors and all seasonal and part-time employees.
Staff at Fall Creek Falls worked on numerous capital maintenance projects, notably the nature center. Staff worked on gift shop renovations and worked with engineers during the design, planning and installation of a sewer project. Stables were converted to a group camp, and updates were made to other facilities.
For more information on Fall Creek Falls State Park, visit https://tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls.