Julie A. Oaks
TDOT, Public Information Officer
 Office: 615.741.2331
Mobile: 615.533.7105
Fax: 615.741.9093

Bredesen Announces Enhancement Grant for Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Trail

Nashville, Tenn. - Governor Phil Bredesen joined state and local leaders today to announce a transportation enhancement grant in the amount of $90,708 to the Tennessee Historical Commission for the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Trail project in Henderson County.

The grant funds will be used to construct an additional 5,800 feet of pedestrian trails and eight new interpretive waysides. The new features will connect to the existing surface transportation network at three different places.

“Heritage tourism can bring thousands of visitors to our state each and every year, creating revenue for our local economies,” said Governor Bredesen. “I’m pleased the state could assist in the efforts to showcase this piece of Civil War history.”

“This project will offer motorists traveling through this part of the state an enhanced Civil War site to visit,” said Representative Steve McDaniel. ”I thank Governor Bredesen and TDOT for providing funds for this important project.”

Senator Roy Herron added, “Once complete, this enhancement project will give visitors access to areas of this battlefield that have never been accessible before.”

The Tennessee Wars Commission, a division of the Tennessee Historical Commission, will oversee the project.

"We're delighted to receive this grant, which will allow us to develop a trail and interpretive signs and other educational materials for the Parkers Crossroads Battlefield site," said Fred Prouty, Director of Programs for the Tennessee Wars Commission.  "These funds will further enhance more than two miles of existing trails and link the site of the opening shots of the battle with its counterparts to the south."
 
The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“TDOT has funded more than $189 million in transportation related projects through our Enhancement Grant Program,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “This program provides funds to cities, counties and state organizations to fund activities such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping, streetscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects.” 

The federal grant program was established by Congress in the early 1990’s to fund activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.