Authored By Staff report

In honor of National Public Lands Day, Tennessee State Parks, Friends Groups and Tennessee State Natural Areas are hosting a variety of volunteer stewardship projects, and free hikes and interpretive programs on Saturday, Sept. 22. “We invite Tennesseans of all ages to join us in showing respect and appreciation for the beautiful public lands we call home,” TDEC Deputy Commissioner for Parks and Conservation Brock Hill said. “We’re grateful to Gov. Haslam for declaring Sept. 22 Tennessee Public Lands Day in recognition of the valuable role our public lands play for Tennessee’s environment and economy as well as the strong volunteer spirit that’s alive and well across our state.” This year, a variety of events and service projects are planned, including litter clean-ups, trail maintenance activities, ranger-led hikes and canoe floats. Events will be held at different times throughout the day and some parks are hosting multiple events. Last year, more than 1,000 people participated in this day of service. This is also an excellent opportunity for TN Promise Scholars to bank volunteer hours. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) began in 1994 with just three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Now in its 25th year, NPLD is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands, which make up over 30 percent of America’s landscape. Here are a dozen NPLD events planned at state parks relatively near Chattanooga. Click on the name of each park for more information. Cumberland Trail Join Appalachia CARES/ AmeriCorps member Anna Schilling for a litter pickup at the North Chickamauga Creek Trailhead. Fort Loudoun Help keep Fort Loudoun’s trails clear and safe so you and others can continue to enjoy them. Work may include pruning branches, removing privet, clearing steps/bridges of debris, and/or cleaning kiosks. Harrison Bay Harrison Bay State Park can use your help on carrying lumber out onto the Bay Point Loop Trail. Last year a long section of boardwalk was constructed and the Park and Friends of Harrison Bay are looking to building more. Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River There is an invasive plant that grows in the park known as privet. It takes over the area of native trees and plants. The plan is to pull up the pesky privet! You will be working on removing privet for a couple of hours. You will then finish out the day with a hike on the loop trail to admire what you are trying to protect and preserve. Red Clay Work will include trail building to maintain the beautiful trails at Red Clay. Help keep them clear and safe so you and others can continue to enjoy them. Cumberland Mountain Work to reclaim the park’s original CCC picnic area — the 1st picnic area on the park! Work will include removing shrubbery, trimming back limbs, raking loose debris, and picking up trash. Fall Creek Falls Meet Robert Becker at the Main Overlook for Fall Creek Falls to hike to the base and learn the history and ecological balances that make the park special! Old Stone Fort Join Park Rangers on National Public Lands Day for this sunset hike along the Enclosure Trail. Old Stone Fort Work will be to remove overgrowth from the Garrison Road/ Nature Trails in the hope of restoring the area to the way it once was and to encourage the growth of native plant species in the area. Rock Island Take a hike on the Upstream Trail into the river gorge. On the hike, you will also be picking up garbage to ensure the water and park stays nice and clean. South Cumberland Join in with other South Cumberland trailblazers to help create a brand-new loop trail at the park. Tims Ford Come for a day of trail maintenance on the park’s newest section of trail located on Evans loop.