Latest news with #TennesseeStateParks
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Some Kingston Springs boat ramps still closed on Harpeth River ahead of Memorial Day weekend
KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (WKRN) — Some boat ramps along the Harpeth River in Kingston Springs are still closed after severe storms this week. Tennessee State Parks officials are working hard to get them back open before Memorial Day. The National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee during the storms, including two EF0 tornadoes in Clarksville and an EF1 twister in Cumberland County. Those storms dumped several inches of rain on the Volunteer State while powerful wind gusts downed trees and power lines. Bellevue residents report plant pilfering As a result of the rainfall, the Harpeth River crested at 17.02 feet Tuesday, May 20. Now the river is filled with debris, and the water is still too high for safe boating this holiday weekend. Harpeth River State Park managers have put a chain up to block some of the boat ramps off until water falls back below 5 feet. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More They're also watching the weather over the weekend, as more storms could shut some ramps back down. Park managers say they will continue to monitor the water levels, you can also gauge them yourself, click here. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Survey opens for future of David Crockett Birthplace State Park
GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee State Parks officials are asking the public to help shape the future of the David Crockett Birthplace State Park. 'We want Tennesseans to tell us what they would like to see in the rebirth of David Crockett Birthplace, a beloved state park that holds many memories of the beautiful Tennessee outdoors and is a treasured historical site,' Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner of Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said in a news release. 'We need visitor feedback on how to best honor the legacy of David Crockett and the park that bears his name.' The online survey will help inform park leadership on the future of the park. According to the release, a master plan for the park has started and the survey is a key step in the process. The survey is open until May 18. The park, which was devastated by Hurricane Helene, has been temporarily closed since September 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
22-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
On Earth Day and Every Day The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Celebrates Youth who are Protecting the Planet
'With all that nature gives us — wisdom, inspiration, connection — it's only right that we give something back,' says T.A. Barron. 'Our Barron Prize young heroes remind me that each of us has the power to be a steward of this Earth, whether by planting a tree, reducing waste, or simply sharing our love of nature with others.' The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, an award that honors inspiring youth across the U.S. and Canada, celebrates young conservationists on Earth Day and all year long. Established in 2001 by author T. A. Barron, the Barron Prize honors outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people or the environment. Barron believes passionately that each of us can and should play a part in protecting the natural world. The Barron Prize celebrates these recent winners who are deeply committed to protecting the planet: Artash Nath created to investigate how human activities affect underwater ocean noise and marine mammals, particularly whales. His system uses data from hydrophones (underwater microphones) to estimate human-caused ocean noise, which disrupts whales' communication and navigation. He aims to aid whale conservation, such as the design of policies to reduce collisions between whales and the world's 80,000 commercial ships. Arya Gurumukhi invented a novel catalyst to improve upon the Bionic Leaf technology, a solar-powered device that mimics photosynthesis to create a highly efficient, alcohol-based fuel from just water, sunlight, and bacteria. She envisions her clean, sustainable energy source as a way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and reduce energy insecurity. Cash Daniels protects freshwater ecosystems and has removed more than 35,000 pounds of trash from the Tennessee River, the world's most microplastics-polluted river. He has partnered with Tennessee State Parks to place more than 150 fishing line collection bins across the state, protecting waterways and the animals who easily become entangled in the line. Cash funds his collection bins with money earned by recycling aluminum cans – more than three tons of them to date. Elizabeth Djajalie works passionately to protect Alaska's ecosystems and way of life by conducting research to help conserve Pacific salmon. She also leads the student arm of the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF), a statewide nonprofit that supports STEM education for Alaska youth. Esther Bonney founded Nurture Natives to protect native plant species. Her nonprofit educates adults and children about the increasing problems non-natives pose to agriculture, pollinators, and homeowners. Her youth-led group hosts plant giveaways across Maryland and has distributed more than 47,000 native seedlings. The group has also planted 2.2 million seeds and donated $24,000 worth of native plants to underprivileged communities. Genshu Price created Bottles4College to recycle cans and bottles, using the proceeds to help students in Hawaii attend college. Over the past three years, his nonprofit has recycled more than 1.5 million cans and bottles, diverting 100,000 pounds of trash from landfills. In 2023, Genshu awarded Hawaii high school seniors his first round of scholarships – nearly $22,000, raised five cents at a time. Nirbhuy Arun & Alexis Nicholson co-founded Kids for Urban Trees and have planted more than 300 trees at schools, parks, and low-income housing complexes in their community. The two friends started their club to address the urban heat effect and to develop young environmental stewards. Varin Sikka invented AirCat, a Direct Air Capture system that removes carbon dioxide from the air on a large scale and holds the potential to significantly mitigate climate change. Varin's system makes use of the world's 300,000 wind turbines that provide renewable energy. For more info visit About the Barron Prize Established in 2001 by author T. A. Barron, the Barron Prize is a national award that annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Fifteen top winners each receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. These young people are as diverse as their service projects. They are female and male, urban and rural, and from a wide variety of backgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. All of them demonstrate heroic character qualities like courage, compassion, and perseverance. Through the years, the Barron Prize has earned the support of Girl Scouts of the USA, The Wilderness Society, Youth Service America, and Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, among other organizations. To learn more about the Barron Prize, visit Media Contact Company Name: CATHY CALLEGARI PUBLIC RELATIONS INC Contact Person: Liz Ammirato Email: Send Email Phone: 914-299-3882 Address:159 Madison Avenue, Apt. 5J City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: On Earth Day and Every Day The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Celebrates Youth who are Protecting the Planet
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
David Crockett State Park trail reopening Saturday
LIMESTONE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Nature fans and those alike are gearing up for a big weekend as the Crockett Shoals Overlook Trail opens. David Crockett Birthplace State Park remains closed nearly seven months after Hurricane Helene destroyed much of the park. But that's set to change this weekend with the Crockett Shoals Overlook Trail opening on Saturday. 'I think it's just a sign of hope,' said park ranger Jonathan Chinouth. 'It's a step in the right direction. You know, we're working tirelessly trying to get this park back up and operating again. It's going to be a marathon, not a race. But to just re-open a trail and give a sense of normalcy back to the community, I think it's very important.' Water levels from Helene reached as high as the trail, but there's also a new sign of new life now that the water has receded. 'We are starting to see some regrowth of things like native rivercane,' Chinouth said. 'So we want people to be mindful of that too, you know, watch where they're stepping. Because that kind of plant that's coming back is also hopeful. It's nice that it's native and it will help with bank stabilization. So that's also nice to have.' The 'road to rebirth' as Chinouth called it wasn't done by just the rangers. Community members volunteered their help as well, such as June McQueen who says it was a rewarding experience. 'My first day of volunteering was on this trail as a matter of fact. We scraped all the mud off the trail and the little building down there. Unbelievably, the mud made it that high, incredible,' McQueen said. The trail will have normal operation times from dawn to dusk, but visitors of the park will notice a few different changes. Chinouth says parking will be limited to one hour and there will only be space for five vehicles. 'We feel like, you know, that gives everybody locally here a chance to come out for their daily hikes, for walking their dogs, just getting a workout in or just having a picnic at our two picnic tables here for lunch,' Chinouth said. The park has also partnered with Tennessee Brew Works out of Nashville and Johnson City Brewing Company to release a limited-editiong beer: the David Crockett Birthplace Pilsner. The beer will be in select stores across the state soon and will help benefit the Go Ahead Fund. That fund will help fuel the rebuilding of the park. 'Since this region was impacted, Tennessee Brew Works, which is out of Nashville, they're a brewery that has been working with Tennessee State Parks for a while now,' Chinouth said. 'They created a collaboration beer with Johnson City Brewing and, so, you know, a brewery who knows us and worked with us in the past gets to collaborate with another brewery who's worked with Tennessee State Parks as a whole. So it was it was just kind of the right fit.' As for the rest of the park, there is currently no timetable for reopening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Festivals, stargazing, pickin' parties and more: Ideas for kid-friendly fun in Nashville
With the warmer weather (hopefully) here to stay in Nashville, spring and summer festivals are getting into full swing around the city and the region. Looking for ideas for things to do with kids in tow this spring and summer? From wandering tulip fields to pickin' and grinnin' under a full moon at Percy Warner Park, Nashville has its share of kid-friendly outings. Here are just a few to get you started. Explore a variety of Metro Nashville Parks. Nashville's extensive network of parks are free and open to all ages, and include several nature centers. There are plenty of programs and events to choose from at each park. Learn more at Make the trek to one of Tennessee's state parks. Tennessee is home to dozens of state parks, many of which are free and open to the public. From birding to biking to a simple nature walk, there are plenty of family-friendly options across the parks. Pro tip: Try the Lake Loop trail at Radnor Lake State Park for an easy walk and a chance to spot bald eagles in the wild. Learn more about what the parks offer in the Nashville area and beyond at Enjoy the blooms at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens. Nothing compares to Cheekwood when it's in full bloom. It hosts multiple family-friendly events throughout the year and admission is free for ages 2 and younger. More information at Splash around at a water park or pool. While it's not quite warm enough to think about water parks and swimming yet, those summery Tennessee days aren't far off. Nashville has several city-sponsored water activities, including canoeing, kayaking, spraygrounds, swimming pools and the ever-popular wave pool at Wave Country. Learn more about the options at Looking for a full water park adventure? Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort has you covered with a massive water park, lake rentals, a spot for RVs, cabins to rent and even a Treetop Adventure Park. Learn more at Go chasing waterfalls. A stunning variety of waterfalls dot Middle Tennessee, including several that are within an hour or two of Nashville. While not all the falls are suitable for littler visitors, Tennessee State Parks has a helpful guide on where to go, including spots that offer camping and lodging. Learn more at You can also click around the site to see all the state park options around the area. Hit the lake or float the river. There are lots of rivers and lakes around Nashville where you can take a dip or rent a boat, kayak, canoe or inner tube for the day. The city of Nashville offers several options for canoe and kayak rentals, and launch sites. Learn more at Percy Priest Lake and Old Hickory Lake offer several swimming spots and rental options. The Buffalo River, Cumberland River, Duck River and Harpeth River are also popular for float trips, with several options for rental vendors. Welcome spring at Daffodil Day: Reading this before March 22? Then head down to Bell Buckle for its annual Daffodil Day. The festival features thousands of daffodils lining the iconic small town, where gardeners young and old compete for prizes. More information at Missed the daffodils? Try the Tulip Festival. Stroll among more than a million tulips featuring 100 varieties from April 5-6 at Lucky Ladd Farms. You can also hand-pick your own bouquet, explore the farm's own fun park and petting zoo, hear some live music, make arts and crafts and try out Dutch-themed food and drinks. Celebrate art, food and culture at the Nashville Farmers' Market. Throughout the spring and summer months, the market hosts a series of festivals. This year it will host the Strawberry Jubilee Festival and the Afro Fest in May, the Summer Fest in June and the Watermelon Festival in August. While you're there, don't miss out on the kid-favorite spinning globe fountain and the frolic-worthy lawn at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park across the street. Learn more at Branch out to regional festivals. Spring and summer festival season is teeming with options around Middle Tennessee, if you don't mind a bit of a drive. For staters, check out the Chocolate Gravy Festival in Celina on March 22, the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival on April 12 and the Firefly Festival in Cookeville from April 12-13. You can search for festivals and other events by region at Sprawl out at Arrington Vineyards: Grab a blanket or stake out a picnic table for free on the picturesque Arrington Vineyard grounds. The vineyard also regularly hosts free events, including live jazz on the lawn every Saturday and Sunday starting in April, and "food truck Fridays" every week from May through September. More information at Listen, sing or dance along at Musician's Corner: This popular, free and family-friendly concert series is hosted at Centennial Park weekly in May, June and September. This year's series kicks off May 16. More information at Catch a Family Fun Day (and maybe a baseball!) with the Nashville Sounds. Pop over to First Horizon Park for a Sunday Family Fun Day with the Nashville Sounds. Kids can get autographs before the game and run the bases afterward. More information at Tap your toes at a Full Moon Pickin' Party. Join in the pickin' and grinnin' at one of these monthly events under the stars at Percy Warner Park from May through September. Listen to live bluegrass, grab a bite from local food trucks and take advantage of some extra space to spread out around the Percy Warner Equestrian Barn. More information on the parties, along with other events at the park, can be found at See the stars at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Tucked into the hills near Radnor Lake, the observatory hosts frequent telescope nights and even offers summer space camps. While this year's camps are full, there is a waitlist. Learn more at Bonus idea: If you're up for a bit of a drive, the Austin Peay State University Observatory has a series of summer observatory nights. The events are free but require registration ahead of time. Head to to make your reservation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Things to do with kids in Nashville: Our picks for spring 2025
