Friends Of Radnor Lake

PROTECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT OF RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA.

SUPPORT THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL AREA IN AND SURROUNDING RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET OUR CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDES VIEWSHED, WATERSHED, WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE PROTECTION, PARK SECURITY AND HIKING EXPERIENCE. IN FY2023, FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE GRANTED 12 ACRES OF LAND TO THE STATE FOR EXPANSION OF RLSNA. THE LAND WAS PURCHASED BY FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE IN A PRIOR YEAR WITH THE INTENT OF TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY TO THE STATE OF TENNESSEE FOR PARK EXPANSION.

CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AT RADNOR LAKE STATE NATURAL AREA WHICH ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE FUNDS THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT RADNOR LAKE WHICH ENGAGED OVER 2,000 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR. VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND SCHOOL, CHURCH AND CIVIC GROUPS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE IN TRAIL MAINTENANCE, RECOVERY FROM STORM DAMAGE, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AND WETLANDS CLEAN-UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE IN NOTABLE VOLUNTEER EVENTS INCLUDING WORLD WETLANDS DAY, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WEEK, WEED WRANGLE, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY. PARK STAFF MANAGE ALL VOLUNTEERS ON PARK PROPERTY AND PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT THE NATURAL AREA AND HOW TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.JUNIOR RANGERS INTERN PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN HOSTED EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS, ENGAGING TEENAGERS IN A SIX-DAY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH INTRODUCES THEM TO CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. DAILY WORK INCLUDES TRAIL MULCHING, MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE PARK AND AT THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER, AND EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. AGAIN THIS YEAR, INTERNS WORKED TO BUILD THE NEW TRAIL ON THE HARRIS RIDGE PROPERTY AND ENJOYED A DAY OF BIRD WATCHING/IDENTIFICATION EDUCATION. RIVER CLEAN-UP ON THE DUCK RIVER WAS ADDED BACK TO THE CURRICULUM THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC.FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE HELPS FUND THE NATIVE GRASSLANDS INITIATIVE, A LONG-TERM NATURAL AREAS PLAN TO REMOVE INVASIVE-EXOTIC PLANTS IN TARGET AREAS AND PLANT A CUSTOM SEED MIX TO RETURN 40 ACRES OF LAND TO THE NATIVE GRASSES THAT EXISTED AT RADNOR 50 YEARS AGO. THESE NATIVE GRASSES ATTRACT AND SUSTAIN POLLINATORS AND BUTTERFLIES, AND WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE POLLINATOR POPULATION IN THESE REPLANTED AREAS IN RECENT YEARS. DUE TO THE ECOLOGICAL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM, WE ARE SUPPORTING EXPANDED WORK IN THIS AREA AS THE PARK IDENTIFIES AREAS WHERE NATIVE GRASSLANDS CONVERSION IS POSSIBLE.THE BARBARA J. MAPP AVIARY EDUCATION CENTER (BJMAEC) OPENED AT RADNOR IN 2015. FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE RAISED THE FUNDS TO BUILD THIS FACILITY AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAIN THE EAGLE PROGRAM. AT THE BJMAEC, PARK STAFF CARE FOR SEVEN NON-RELEASEABLE BIRDS OF PREY THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS EDUCATION ANIMALS DUE TO PERMANENT INJURIES. THESE RAPTORS, WHICH COULD NOT SURVIVE IN THE WILD, ARE USED FOR EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE THE TWO DAYS A WEEK WHEN THE AREA IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ARE NOW INCLUDED IN OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM.

PROVIDE EDUCATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, PARK ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND SPONSORED PROJECTS THROUGH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS, WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS. PARK ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR INCLUDE BIRDING AND WILDFLOWER HIKES, OFF-TRAIL GUIDED HIKES AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TOURS, HIKES WITH OUR RESEARCH TEAMS, AND CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD WETLANDS DAY, RACHEL CARSON DAY, NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, AMERICAN EAGLE DAY, NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY. ALL PARK ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE ARE MANAGED BY RADNOR LAKE PARK STAFF.