Protecting Radnor Lake

Critical land is now under contract along southwest boundary

Bob Martineau, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, recently announced that another key piece of land, adjacent to Radnor Lake State Natural Area, is under contract. This 23.5 acres represents the next step in a 60-acre acquisition on the natural area’s southwestern boundary.
In May, the first 40 acres was secured and is now owned by the State of Tennessee. The remaining 23.5 acres is now covered by a contract and fundraising is actively underway to complete the purchase.

Commissioner Bob Martineau announcing that 23.5 acres bordering Radnor Lake State Natural Area is under contract and will soon be protected. Photograph by Stephanie McKinney
Commissioner Bob Martineau announcing that 23.5 acres bordering Radnor Lake State Natural Area is under contract and will soon be protected. Photograph by Stephanie McKinney

“Protecting this land is an exciting project for Radnor’s public-private partnership,” says Greer Tidwell, Board President, Friends of Radnor Lake. “Our project partner, The Land Trust for Tennessee, and TDEC’s park management team have been working very hard with us to protect this area.”
The new 23.5 acre tract includes unique grassland habitat for ground-nesting birds such as bobwhite quail, whippoorwills and wild turkeys. The entire 63.5 acres will be known as “The Hideaway at Radnor Lake.”
With Commissioner Martineau’s announcement, fundraising has kicked into full swing. Generous early contributions from The Frist Foundation and the AWC Family Foundation along with a recent grant from the Cal Turner Family Foundation serve as phenomenal anchor donations.
Contributions from hikers and lovers of Radnor have made a huge difference as we only have $60,000 more to raise.
Even as we work to add the next 23.5 acres, Radnor Lake State Natural Area staff has already started working on the first 40 acres and are using it for education. Several key activities are already proving the value of this land including invasive plant removal; native plant identification; research by MTSU geography and history students to locate, document and assess cultural resources; and ranger-led hikes. This critical property conserves unique wildlife habitat and offers many opportunities for environmental education. Everyone benefits, and every donation helps us get a step closer to protecting this land forever. You can make a donation online at www.radnorlake.org or write a check payable to Friends of Radnor Lake and send to P.O. Box 40324, Nashville, TN 37204. Please reference “Land” in the comment line.