Tennessee State Parks is participating in the Tennessee Environmental Council's second annual 50K Tree Day on Saturday, Feb. 27. Participants will plant 50,000 native trees in one day across the state. Several state parks and community partners are hosting tree planting events where they are inviting locals to come out and volunteer. Visit the Tennessee Environmental Council's website for times, locations and registration atwww.tectn.org/50ktreeday.

"This is a great opportunity for Tennessee State Parks to partner with an organization that shares our vision of a cleaner, healthier Tennessee and to invite the public into our beautiful state parks as first-time or returning visitors," said Tennessee State Parks Friends & Volunteer Program Assistant Laura Williams.

Tennessee State Parks will have 33 tree distribution locations on Friday, Feb. 26 from 1-6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27 from 8-10 a.m. local time. People can register to pick up free bundles of bare-root seedlings, which can then be planted anywhere across the state. The trees will come in bundles of five and will include each of the following: Dogwood, Redbud, Shumard (Red) Oak, Virginia Pine, and Yellow (Tulip) Poplar - Tennessee's state tree. Registration is open while supplies last.

"People in Tennessee love planting trees, and it's a top priority for our organization as a way to improve our environment, communities and public health," said John McFadden, CEO of Tennessee Environmental Council.

The Tennessee Environmental Council has donated over 4,000 seedlings to Tennessee State Parks for participating in this event. To help enhance our public lands, visit http://tnstateparks.com/blog/plant-a-tree-for-the-future-at-50k-tree-day to see which Parks are hosting planting events on Saturday, Feb. 27. This is your chance to plant a tree in a state park that visitors will enjoy for generations to come!