Tennessee State Parks Return With Annual Weed Wrangle Saturday

Some 40 Tennessee State Parks are set to participate in the annual Weed Wrangle.

Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, Rock Island, and Fall Creek Falls are among the local participating parks. Tennessee State Parks Volunteer and Friends Program Assistant Dava Lundquist said the wrangle allows volunteers to fight invasive species in public parks.

“These are plants that originally do not come from here they come from overseas, they are not part of our natural ecosystem,” Lundquist said. “They grow super fast, they spread seeds very quickly, so quickly that our native species cannot compete with them.”

Lundquist said many of the target plant species thrive in the Upper Cumberland, such as privet and Kudzu. She said state and community experts will supervise the removal of the plants.

Lundquist said in addition to helping protect native species, the annual Weed Wrangle also encourages the community to get out and enjoy their local state parks.

“We are asking folks to wear appropriate outdoor work clothing, proper shoes-closed toed boots if possible. And bring gloves if they have them,” Lundquist said. “Our parks will have gloves on hand to give to volunteers. But if you have any at home, please bring them just in case.”