Valve House Trail, which MTSU geography and history students helped to create, will be opened to the public in a ceremony slated for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Radnor Lake State Natural Area in Nashville.

The ceremony is part of the venue’s celebration of National Public Lands Day. The trail opening will take place at Netherton Point near the dam and includes an interpretive hike along the trail led by Dr. Doug Heffington, director of the MTSU Global Studies Program and a professor of historical geography.

“We have worked closely with the Radnor staff to collect geographical and historical data dealing with the natural area,” Heffington said. “Our first phase was data collection. This phase is the construction and interpretation of the historic Valve House Trail, and the third phase will be the reconstruction of the Valve House itself.”

Rangers also will lead a walk to the opening of two new bridges along the Lake Trail, where additional ribbon-cutting events will be held.

Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Visitor Center for coffee and light refreshments. A light lunch will be served at the Visitor Center, which is located off Granny White Pike at 1160 Otter Creek Road in Nashville.

This free public event is sponsored by Friends of Radnor Lake. For more information, contact Heffington at 615-898-5978 or jheffing@mtsu.edu, or call the Radnor Lake State Natural Area at 615-373-3467. For a map of the site, go to http://tinyurl.com/RadnorLakeMap.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)