Townsend River Walk & Arboretum 2024 Year In Review - A Celebration of Volunteers & Projects
Which Came First Volunteers or the Projects?
It is a difficult question to answer for without the projects there would be no need of Volunteers and without the Volunteers the Projects would have never been completed. And without either there would not be a Townsend River Walk & Arboretum for both locals and visitors to explore.
What a year 2024 turned out to be for both Volunteers and Projects! What a great community of volunteers, artisans and the City of Townsend helping to provide changes to the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum (TRWA) unlike any we have seen before. From completion of the Bluebell Trail and Kiosk Building to the great start to the Children's Discovery Garden and newly planted Pollinator Garden there has been a huge positive change in the landscape.
Those of us the regularly volunteer have seen a 3 fold increase in Visitors over last year.
An Incredible Team of Volunteers
If you aren't aware, the TRWA is a 100% volunteer effort. 2024 saw the addition of three dedicated Volunteers to our team complementing our three core volunteers. We also were joined by a volunteer group of Ohio State students sponsored by Wanda DeWaard and our youngest volunteer, Handley Brown. The time and effort put forth by these volunteers, in all sorts of weather conditions, has allowed us to maintain and expand the TRWA beyond what any of us could have dreamt of, only a few short years ago.
2024 by the Numbers.
Number of Volunteers
14
Volunteer Hours
807.5
Value of Volunteer Hours
(They are worth much more!)
$24,225
Volunteer Miles Traveled
2324
Contacts made with Visitors while Volunteering
1420
Tons of Gravel and Sand Hauled In
16 Tons
Yards of Mulch Spread
24 Yards
Native Flowers &Plants Planted
Over 250
Moon Pies Eaten By Volunteers
(TRWA Snack of Choice)
136
Thank You's Given to Volunteers by TRWA Visitors
Too Many To Count. Thank You!
Website Visitors
10,331
Website Page Views
23,084
Website Downloads of Trail Maps
881
Facebook Followers
1163
Our Three Core Volunteers Contributed more than 700 Volunteer Hours!
Volunteers Exceptional: Rodney & Allison Pearson Giving the Newly Installed Seesaw in the Children's Garden a Test! These Two are the Creators of many of the Attractions in the Children's Garden. The TRWA wouldn't be the TRWA without them.
Mark Seder Finishing Up the Roof on one of the New Kiosks. Mark Comes Up with Hairbrained Ideas that Allison & Rodney Help to Make Into Reality.
Our Additional Dedicated Volunteers that provide a lot care and maintenance to the TRWA and help with new projects.
Gina Barnett Started Working With Us in 2024 and has Made a Tremendous Impact!
Kay Goodwin a Volunteer Since 2016 and is Already Stepping It Up for 2025!
Todd Adkins is new Volunteer for 2024. Thanks For Joining the Team! 
Wanda DeWaard and Cornelius DeWaard Brought this Group of Seven Ohio State University Students to Help with Invasive Removal at the TRWA. It is a program that Wanda has started and has been a great help to us!
A Review of the Projects
at the
Townsend River Walk & Arboretum for 2024
Completion of the Bluebell Trail
The Bluebell Trail River View Platform is a Great Place to Enjoy the Little River.
This was the First Note Written in Our Guestbook.
The Bluebell Trails was started in 2023 and in 2024 we completed it with the Little River Viewing Platform, benches gameboards and guestbook. It is a wonderful, peaceful piece of the TRWA and we are looking forward to the Bluebells blooming in 2025!
Read More about the Bluebell Trail
The Children's Discovery Garden Project
The Children's Discovery Garden is Progressing with Completion In the Spring of 2025
The Children's Discovery Garden has made significant progress during 2024. The Faerie Village, Mud Kitchen, See Saw, Shelter, Old 73 Truck, Teepee, carved bear and more have been added throughout the year and several additions are planned in 2025. This area has become a gathering and play place for young and old alike.
Read More About The Children's Discovery Garden
Spring/Summer Pollinator Garden
The Spring/Summer Pollinator garden was moved from what is now the Children's Discovery Garden to the hillside opposite it. It was planted in October with over 250 native plants that will hopefully start to showoff in 2025. It is also home to the Monarch Waystation with over 20 milkweed plants installed.
Read More About the Spring/Summer Pollinator Garden
Art in the Park
Dawn Myers Owl Located in a Cedar Tree
The Bear in the Children's Discovery Garden Created by Ron Holmes
The Greeter by Suzie Holmes Sets Atop Our North Kiosk
We have had several local artisans contribute their creations to the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. It really brings a bit of interest and fun to visitors as they stroll thru the TRWA.
Thank you Suzie & Ron Holmes and Dawn Myers, your contributions are very special to us.
Read More About Art in the Park
There were several other notable events like the Flood in January 2024, Invasive Management by Ohio State Students, Invasive Management by TRWA Volunteers and so much more.
At the end of 2024, after 20 years, we finally were assigned an address for the TRWA.
7447 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy.
Townsend, TN 37882
We have big plans for 2025 and to help those plans come true please take time to Donate to the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. We accept: Credit Cards, ACH, Checks and Cash.
Donate TODAY to Help Enhance & Maintain This Community Project!
Stop by and see for yourself the progress that has been made throughout 2024 to the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. You won't be disappointed!
Mark Seder - Project TRWA Coordinator
