Cookeville Native Is Edgar Evins’ New Manager

When Edgar Evins State Park’s new manager took over he already had a lifetime of memories to build on in the park.

Kenny Gragg grew up in Cookeville and went to Edgar Evins every chance he got going up.

When he got the chance to manage Edgar Evins State Park, he took it.

“Well, for one it was home, and the diverse wildlife and the wildflowers around Edgar Evins and the hills, I missed the hills of the Cookeville area and the highland rim,” Gragg said.

Gragg said he’s always wanted to work for the park service.

“Just being in the outdoors, there’s nothing like in an office, it’s not really an office, and being able to be outdoors all day, since I was a child, I just enjoyed my time outside,” Gragg said.

He officially took over managing Edgar Evins January 1, but the park service didn’t announce the change until this week.