HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 28, 2022) – Volunteers celebrated National Public Lands Day at Stark Knob Boat Ramp, on Old Hickory Lake, Saturday, Sept. 26th. The annual event brought together volunteers from the local community and Nashville District park rangers who helped restore, clean, and improve the recreation area.
Volunteers arrived at the Stark Knob Boat Ramp around 9 a.m., ready to work. Rangers set up a tent with cleaning supplies, cans of spray paint, bags, gloves, and other cleaning supplies. Children, accompanying their parents, grabbed plastic bags and gloves before heading into the woodline to clean up trash.
NPLD is one of five “Fee-Free Days” per year, when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands to promote community involvement. Old Hickory Lake park rangers and volunteers focused on Stark Knob Boat Ramp this year. The recreation area provides access to a boat ramp, several acres of woods, park benches, and paths leading down to the water’s edge.
“I’m glad we’re here making a difference,” said Park Ranger Tiffannie “Chee” Hill. “I’d be out here helping today, even if I wasn’t a park ranger, because moments like this are important. We need to keep our communities clean and that’s what National Public Lands Day is all about.”
Volunteers picked up several trash bags of waste, including old plastic tarps, water bottles, discarded clothing, and a tattered dining room table chair. “It’s sad to see all of this trash just left here. I’m not sure who they think will clean this up. We live close so we were happy to volunteer because this is our community and our kids play here,” said Local Volunteer Diane Parker.
Park rangers gave instructions to volunteers before handing them cans of brown spray paint. “We want to make this area look as nice as we can,” said Park Ranger Jakob Craig. “Covering up all the negative words and images is a big part of that. We want people to enjoy their time here and enjoy the sights.”
Volunteers worked through scattered rainstorms and spent three hours cleaning the area. “I’m glad we could come out and help. It really means a lot to us to be involved and say we did our part to make this place as beautiful as possible,” said Parker.
Park rangers collected the trash-filled bags and loaded tree trimmings into a flatbed truck for proper disposal. After the site was cleaned and cleared, park rangers served volunteers pizza to celebrate all the hard work.
“This is an annual event, but for a lot of the volunteers this is their first time participating. We’re hoping that today’s event encourages them to come back next year and be a part of something impactful in their local community,” said Hill.
To find out more about National Public Lands Day, visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day.htm
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)
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