In the realm of conservation and historical preservation, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has bequeathed Johnsonville State Historic Park the Excellence in Resource Stewardship Award. The announcement, detailed by TDEC Commissioner David Salyers, applauds the park for its “record of achievement and service” that includes efforts ranging from significant cleanups to the discovery of historical artifacts.
Joy at the park was evident, as initiatives like the Humphreys County River Rescue, reflected their deep-seated commitment to the environment. The park, attesting to its diligence, achieved Diamond level status in TDEC’s Go Green with Us program, and showcased strong community ties, collaborating with First Lady Maria Lee’s Tennessee Serves program during events like National Public Lands Day, said the TDEC Commissioner. They didn’t stop at cleanups; the park also hosted a workshop focused on the removal of non-native invasive species, building a more robust ecological network, according to the department’s release.
Infrastructure improvements weren’t sidelined either. The installation of a universal-access sidewalk to the park’s pollinator garden and the refurbishment of part of the Nashville & Northwestern Military Railroad Trail are recent feathers in the park’s cap. Equally noteworthy, technology was marshaled in the service of history — ground-penetrating radar surveys brought to light a previously undocumented section of rifle pits dating back to the Civil War, deepening the tapestry of our nation’s storied past…