News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Burgess Falls State Park will host a Tennessee Promise Service Event Saturday.
Park Manager Bill Summers said the service day benefits the park in various ways.
“The volunteers help us plant these trees. We just, with a small staff and a visitation of about 200,000 visitors a year now, don’t have the time,” Summers said. “And then the Friends, by purchasing the trees they help save state budget that I can allocate to other projects.”
Summers said the workday provides Tennessee Promise students the opportunity to complete mandatory service hours.
“The volunteers will be planting native trees and native shrubs. Our nonprofit Friends of Burgess Falls, they actually purchased about $1,300 of native plant material,” Summers said. “Not only to increase native habitats but also to allow us to reduce our mowing.”
Summers said he expects a good turnout of volunteering students.
“I hope so, we have put fifteen down as our max because of the area we will be in,” Summers said. “And the limited amount of shovels and equipment that I have.”
Burgess Falls is one of several State Parks participating in Tennessee Promise Service Events. Fall Creek Falls, Cummins Falls, and Edgar Evins will also host events on June 22.
