The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has announced a grant of $217,060 for Tims Ford State Park under the state’s Tire Environmental Act Program.

Tims Ford State Park will contribute $54,265 in matching funds to utilize the grant for the installation of three porous pavement trails made from recycled scrap tires. The total project cost of $271,325 aims to create ADA-compliant pathways, supporting Tennessee State Parks’ Access 2030 initiative to be the most accessible park system nationwide.

“The Tire Environmental Act Program offers a means to repurpose old tires into community assets,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young. “These grants facilitate that transformation, and we anticipate positive outcomes from this initiative.”

The trails, spanning over 0.5 miles in total, will recycle approximately 6,420 scrap tires, enhancing access to areas like the beachfront and marina. This project provides a valuable recreational resource, promoting the health and well-being of residents in Franklin and the surrounding counties.

The Tire Environmental Act Program funds projects that beneficially utilize waste tires. Eligible projects fall into one of three categories: tire processing/recycling, tire-derived material use, or research and development. Grants are available to local governments, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and for-profit businesses.

Established in 2015, the Tire Environmental Fund is supported by a fee assessed on the initial retail sale of new motor vehicles in Tennessee, based on the number of wheels. The fund supports projects that create or support beneficial uses for waste tires.

Since 2015, the program has awarded nearly $9.2 million in grants, diverting approximately 7.6 million tires (or nearly 82,000 tons) from landfills. These repurposed tires are used in rubberized asphalt, tire-derived aggregate, tire-derived fuel, granulated rubber porous flexible pavement, and other beneficial applications.