Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park to Hold Anniversary Event May 19
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 | 05:07am
Celebration Will Help Commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary
EVA, Tenn. – The year 2012 marks Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary and to help commemorate this important milestone, Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park will hold a Civil War Living History Day on May 19, beginning at 9 a.m.
“We are very excited to celebrate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary this year,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. “The Civil War Living History Day will be a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the history of the area and will serve as just one of the many statewide celebrations we will be holding throughout the year. It’s also a great opportunity to thank the Friends of N.B. Forrest State Park and the entire local community for all their hard work and support.”
WHO:
Interim Director of Parks Mike Robertson
Park Manager Robert Wood
Local elected officials and community members
WHAT:
75th Anniversary Event / Civil War History Day at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
Activities include artillery drills, cannon firings, infantry demonstrations, Civil War music, and a variety of living history re-enactors.
WHEN:
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Activities begin at 9 a.m.
WHERE:
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park – Eva Beach
1825 Pilot Knob Road
Eva, Tenn. 38333
The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today. As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 53 Tennessee State Parks.
Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee. A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state. The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state. When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs.
“Our vision statement highlights the inherent value of our natural environment, along with the value of the many physical reminders of Tennessee’s past,” added Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill. “Tennessee’s state parks have played such an important role in our history, and they play a critical role in our health and quality of life, which will benefit Tennesseans well into the future.”
Tennessee’s state parks deliver a rich fabric of natural landscapes, wild places, preserved ecologies, outdoor recreational opportunities and protected historic scenes and resources – together representing the heritage of Tennessee in the landscape.
Tennessee's 53 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 1-888-867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park sits on the banks of Kentucky Lake, and is a popular spot for boating, water skiing and fishing. There are more than 30 hiking trails in the park, as well as camping, picnic areas and cabins. The park also features Pilot Knob, the highest elevation in West Tennessee, which houses the Tennessee River Folklife Interpretive Center. The center features the life, ways and customs of people who lived along the Tennessee River. For directions or more information about the park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/NBForrest.
###
Press Releases | Environment & Conservation | Media Advisories