Donations Are Improving Tennessee State Parks
April 12, 2023 | Permalink
.jpg)
The My TN State Park Fundraiser is an annual event that allows people to donate to vote for their favorite Tennessee state park. Since the fundraiser’s inception in 2021, donations have funded significant improvements in park facilities and visitor experiences, including improved trails, new educational programs, and support for wildlife ambassadors. Below, you can find out how your favorite park has been putting donations to work.
Support Your Favorite Park Today
You can donate to vote for your favorite Tennessee state park in this year's My TN State Park Fundraiser until April 30, 2023!
Education & Programs
Dunbar Cave State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to add interpretive waysides that provide information about Affricanna Town, a community where newly emancipated African Americans asserted their new-found freedom in 1864, as well as the history of those who were enslaved at Dunbar Cave prior to the war.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to help purchase a new pontoon boat and various maintenance tools. Ranger-led pontoon boat rides are a favorite activity among park visitors!
Harrison Bay State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to assist with interpretive projects, purchase food for birds of prey, support educational programs and displays, expand the cornel nest-watch based nest box program, purchase tools for trail-maintenance, and expand the park's virtual programs using 360 footage.
Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to complete the park’s outdoor school project.
Panther Creek State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase an Apertura AD10 Dobsonian 10" Telescope and has begun offering extremely popular astronomy programs to the public.
Pickett CCC Memorial State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase a solar telescope for Youth Education Outreach and other Astronomy based programs. The park also purchased replica animal pelts and skulls for interpretive programs and Youth Education Outreach efforts and tools and building materials to be used for a historic restoration effort on an original CCC structure in the park's cabin area.
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to add a kiosk and miscellaneous park signage.
Reelfoot Lake State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to add new display cases to the park's museum exhibits and purchase food for the park’s wildlife ambassadors.
Plants and Pollinators
Big Cypress Tree State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser helped support native plant restoration efforts at the park.
Big Hill Pond State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase new beekeeping equipment.
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to add new plants and signage in the park’s interpretive English herb garden.
Fort Pillow State Historic Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to support the addition of gravel, plants and mulch within the park’s butterfly garden.
Harpeth River State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase native grass seed and plants for the establishment of a native meadow at the park.
Mousetail Landing State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase seed and fertilizer for planting a pollinator field at the park entrance. This field was planted to help the park’s honey bees. The bees produce 85 jars of honey last season.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to remove five acres of invasive privet around the park.
Seven Islands State Birding Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to plant zinnia fields at the park’s Bluebird Barn and the Swallows at the Window Barn.
Facility Upgrades
Bledsoe Creek State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to enhance a sitting area adjacent to the pollinator garden with a concrete floor and butterfly benches.
Burgess Falls State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser helped repair the parking area fencing at Window Cliffs State Natural Area.
David Crockett State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to order new ADA accessible swings for the park playgrounds. The swings are on back order but will be installed when they arrive!
Frozen Head State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase new park benches for the Flat Fork Story Book Trail, trail maintenance equipment, and multimedia equipment to advertise park features.
Montgomery Bell State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase benches at the park’s Aviary.
Radnor Lake State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase lumber for replacement of rotted handrails at the park’s Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center.
Red Clay State Historic Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to build the Blacksmith Shop exhibit.
Roan Mountain State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to complete several projects at the Miller Farmstead, purchase trail tools and lumber for trail work, and purchase food for the park's wildlife ambassadors.
Rock Island State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to add additional pet waste disposal stations and purchase displays and interpretive items for the park’s nature center.
Historic Preservation
Johnsonville State Historic Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase materials to fabricate PVC headstones used to mark all known graves in the African Methodist Cemetery.
Norris Dam State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase & install historically accurate windows for the Rice Gristmill.
Port Royal State Historic Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to support restoration needs at the park’s 1859 General store.
Trail Upgrades
Long Hunter State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to replace two trail bridges on volunteer and Day Loop trails.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used for hiking trail maintenance.
Savage Gulf State Park & South Cumberland State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase materials for a new wooden staircase on the trail to Greeter Falls.
Wildlife Ambassadors
Cumberland Mountain State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to purchase aviary supplies, park maintenance equipment, program materials, video boards for the Homestead Harvest Restaurant, boat dock operational equipment, and a sound system for seasonal programmers.
David Crockett Birthplace State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to install a Litehoof gravel footing system for the park’s donkey enclosure, creating a drier and more hygienic living area. Donations also funded a new roof for the donkey barn.
Henry Horton State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to build a large extension onto the bird of prey enclosures. This effort has provided an added layer of safety as well as an area to do wellness care and respite for the birds.
Paris Landing State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to construct a bird rehabilitation building.
Pickwick Landing State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to provide food for the park's wildlife ambassadors.
Warriors’ Path State Park
Donations from the 2022 My TN State Park Fundraiser were used to build a new raptor enclosure, and the park is now home to a new Black Vulture for public education.
Don't see your favorite park listed?
Visit their fundraising page to see what projects they can complete this year with your support.