OOLTEWAH – The Friends of Tennessee State Parks (Friends) Board of Directors announced today that nearly $6,700 has been awarded to Tennessee State Park Friends Groups and newly forming groups. Grants awarded will fund projects including interpretive signage, gardens, trail markers, a viewing platform and start-up costs to officially form a Friends group. Friends of Pickett State Park received funding for a water bottle filling station.
“We are pleased to offer another round of grant funding to our Friends and congratulate this year’s recipients,” said LeaAnn Carr, president of The Friends of Tennessee State Parks. “The state parks budget has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and being able to offer financial assistance through small grants to our Friends will help make these park projects possible.
The following Friends groups received a Mini Grant:
Friends of Cedars of Lebanon – Butterfly Garden Restoration ($500)
Friends of Johnsonville State Park –Cemetery Headstones Project ($420)
Friends of Henry Horton State Park – Trail Signage ($500)
Friends of Mousetail Landing State Park – Trail Improvements ($500)
Friends of Natchez Trace State Park – Trail Signage ($500)
Friends of Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park – GPS Equipment ($265)
Friends of Norris Dam State Park – Campground Kiosk ($500)
Friends of Old Stone Fort – Boat Shed Construction ($500)
Friends of Pickett State Park – Water Bottle Filling Station ($500)
Friends of Pinson Mounds State Park – Interpretive Signage ($500)
Friends of Rocky Fork State Park – Earthen Viewing Platform ($500)
Friends of Seven Islands State Park – Interpretive Signage ($500)
Friends of Tims Ford State Park – Trail Construction ($500)
The following new group received a Start Up Grant:
Friends of Pinson Mounds ($500)
Funding was raised by FOTSP through various events and partnerships, including a silent auction at the 16thannual Friends Conference. These funds have allowed FOTSP to offer up to $500 to help fund small enhancement projects at Tennessee State Parks, and the ability to cover some of the start-up costs for newly organized Friends’ groups. These grant programs have been especially helpful to groups with limited resources.
For more information about FOTSP or to donate to the grants program, please visit www.friendsoftennesseestateparks.org
