News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cummins Falls State Park has been named park of the year by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Park Manager Ray Cutcher said park staff have worked hard to better protect park goers while also expanding learning opportunities.
“We’re very proud,” Cutcher said. “I’m very proud of our staff and very proud that our department has chosen to recognize all the hard work the folks of Cummins has done.”
Cutcher said in the past year, the park has implemented a new permit system to relieve over crowding at the park’s gorge. Cutcher said new water gauges were installed to foresee possible flood events.
“It’s done really well for us,” Cutcher said. “It’s helped people to be down there and not be crowded and have more of an experience that they were hoping to have when they decide to come to Cummins Falls.”
Cutcher said besides safety, community outreach grew in Putnam and Jackson Counties. Cutcher said the park introduced new education opportunities with honey bees and growing its the Junior Ranger program with local schools.
“Scheduling hikes and things about native bees and honey bees and their importance,” Cutcher said. “We’ve stepped up our Junior Ranger program. We’ve been doing more of those and many more programs to outreach to schools in Putnam and Jackson Counties.”
Tennessee has 56 state parks that competed for the distinction. Cutcher said most of all, the natural beauty of the park surrounding the 75 foot waterfall is why Cummins Falls earned the award.
