Thank you Volunteers! The South Lake Trail is completely mulched and the Spillway Observation Deck is re-opened. We will start work on the South Cove Trail in September!
Next Volunteer Day
Sept 25: 8-noon amFor information call 373-3467
Much has been accomplished these past two months as we have all worked together to rebuild Radnor Lake and make it safe for our visitors to enjoy. The torrential rains that fell during the first weekend of May caused 75 trees to fall on the trails and Otter Creek Road. Approximately 100 yards of Otter Creek Road slid, buckled and fell along the lake's edge. But a lot has been accomplished since our first Volunteer Day May 8th.
What's been accomplished
- More than 700 volunteers have dug out clogged culverts and laid gravel, rock and mulch to repair the Lake and South Lake Trails.
- Hundreds of hours concentrating on the damaged road have paid off. Where big chunks of pavement washed away, there is now one lane graveled and open and another section ready for paving.
- With the donations received to date and with the help of the State of Tennessee, we have reopened the road from the Visitor Center to the top of the spillway, allowing overflow parking up the hill and ADA parking to resume.
- The restrooms are now open!
Moooving Event
The Moograss Jam, originally postponed due to the rain, was rescheduled for May 29 to celebrate Nashville's giving spirit with great music, good food and water slides for the kids. Special thanks to Dan Smith and Debra Brawner at the Granny White Market for bringing this popular bluegrass festival back to the neighborhood and raising funds for Radnor Lake. MORE On that same night, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, held a special open house and collected donations for Radnor Lake too. Thanks to Rocky Alvey for thinking of Radnor Lake with this special event.
Valuable Volunteers
Volunteers galore have pitched in with bottled water, lunches, financial donations, media coverage, time and talent. Special thanks to:
- Brentwood restaurants — Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike's, Granny White Market and Harris Teeter who fed hungry volunteer workers by donating food and discounts.
- The Tennessean, WKRN News Channel 2, WTVF NewsChannel 5, WZTV Fox 17 News and WSMV Channel 4 News provided excellent coverage of the park's devastation, sharing the Radnor Lake story with thousands of viewers and readers.
- Our neighbors and park visitors who have been patient during this entire rebuilding process, bearing with the noise and traffic associated with the clean-up.
- The 2010 Junior Ranger Staff.
- And most of all, we thank you for being a friend and patron of the park as you have shown your concern and love for our protected environment again and again.
Together we have turned the corner. Special thanks to the Tennessee State Park Rangers and the entire Park Staff who have led the efforts, working tirelessly day and night. Come back to Radnor, enjoy the park and stay tuned for exciting news coming this fall. With your help, we will continue to protect, preserve and promote the natural integrity of Radnor Lake, a place we all love and appreciate even more today.
Thank you to all of the Radnor Lake Volunteers
Great progress but more work to do
Volunteers have donated invaluable amounts of time, effort and sweat to rebuilding Radnor Lake's trails. Most trails are now open but considerable work is yet to be done.
- Approximately one acre along the South Cove Trail hill continues to slide after succeeding rain storms, and about one-third of the trail will need to be re-routed, a September volunteer effort. We're grateful that one of our neighbors is donating a new bridge design for this trail.
- The spillway observation deck will be moved and reinstalled later in July by Friends of Radnor Lake board members and the Junior Rangers.
- We continue to seek a more permanent solution to the restoration of Otter Creek Road with the help of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
- Home
- Park Information & Maps
- Rebuilding Radnor
after the Flood - Special Events
- Newsletter
- Radnor License Plate
- How Can I Help?
- FAQ
- Land Acquisition
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Research
- Academic Partnerships
Welcome from the Friends of Radnor Lake!
You are about to discover Tennessee’s first official “Natural Area” located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. With over 1200 acres, Radnor Lake State Natural Area is the largest pocket of wilderness in the U.S. in close proximity to a major city. MORE
Join our email list
Click here to keep up to date on Radnor Lake.
Click here to download
our spring newsletter.
Please make a tax-deductible donation by clicking the image above. And when you renew your license tags at your local county clerk's office, please purchase a Radnor Lake plate. Friends of Radnor Lake has received approximately $60,000 each year since 2003.