SPRINGVILLE (June 20) – It’s being called a “win-win” situation for the community, Henry County, and the Girl Scouts. After more than 46 years serving exclusively as a camp for Girl Scouts, the 330-acre facility fronting Kentucky Lake is being sold to the state of Tennessee and the county of Henry.

But the Girl Scouts are not sad. In fact, “It couldn’t have worked out better,” said Kim McFarland, assistant executive director of the Girl Scout Reelfoot Council. “We are very pleased...It worked out the way it was supposed to be.”

A cooperative agreement with the state of Tennessee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the county of Henry allows the Girl Scouts to continue the near 50-year tradition of offering summer and short-term camping experiences for their organization.

“I do believe it is a win-win for all of us,” said Denise Allen, executive director of the Reelfoot Council. “We have been approached numerous times about selling, but never entertained an offer. This was the best way for us to be sure the land will be preserved.”

Girl Scouts from Hollow Rock-Bruceton were among the campers last week at Camp Hazlewood.

Camp Hazlewood began in 1961 and was named for founders Jane and Ben Hazlewood. The property was purchased from TVA. Today, approximately 500 to 600 campers use the facility throughout the year, but mainly during four weeks in the summer. It has two houses, two sleeping quarters, four troop sites, one primitive site, mess hall, and access to a swimming area.

Plans for the property include a nature center, outdoor classrooms for the community and schools - all under the auspices of Paris Landing State Park.

But it’s a deal that almost didn’t happen. Real estate investors had contacted the Reelfoot Council about purchasing the property. The Council didn’t want to see the land developed. Then a well-timed call to Reelfoot Council Executive Director Denise Allen from Russell Fathauer of the Friends of Paris Landing State Park sparked the imagination of all the parties. That call was placed in March 2006. Allen told Fathauer that the property was “not for sale” but the Council was open to options. Fathauer said the Friends organization was eager to develop a cooperative effort with the Paris Landing State Park, Girl Scouts, county, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Talks continued and a plan was developed. Next was the huge task of funding the project.

Bob Kenworthy of the Friends organization said they were denied funding during their first round of talks with the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust. State Senator Roy Herron, Henry County Mayor Brent Greer, State Legislator Willie Borchert, Dave Goetz, commissioners of Department of Finance and Administration, Deputy Governor Stuart Brunson and Kenworthy met at the state capitol during the Day on the Hill to discuss the plan for Camp Hazlewood.

“We thought we were out, then we got a letter telling us we were back in the running (for the funding),” said Kenworthy.

Fyke visited the camp in November 2006 to review the project.

Fathauer complimented Mayor Greer and Kenworthy for completing the necessary paperwork to apply for the grants. He added that lots of people have added their support to the project.

The Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund provided $500,000 of the $1.5 million purchase price. State Parks successfully sought funding from several sources to complete the required matching funds.

The matching funding comes from two sources: The Land and Water Conservation Fund will contribute approximately one-third of the purchase price and The State Land Acquisition Fund will provide the balance of the funding for a total of $1,490,000. State parks will be in contact with the Girl Scout Council in the near future to initiate the acquisition process.

The projects approved for grant awards must meet certain criteria before the funds are provided, including property surveys and appraisals, environmental assessments and enactment of mechanisms such as conservation easements to guarantee the permanent protection of the properties.

The Heritage grant is “to protect approximately 330 acres of lake front property for the expansion of environmental education and interpretive and outdoor activities offered by Paris Landing State Park. The property includes hardwood forest, open grasslands, deep river shoreline, springs and loblolly pine forests. According to an ongoing study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it attracts more than 300 documented birds residing and traveling the river along the flyway migration. Project partners include Henry County and U.S Fish and Wildlife.”

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Joan Williams, park manager for Paris Landing State Park. She and her husband were once the caretakers for Camp Hazlewood and lived at the camp.

Jolley Hall serves as the mess hall for campers.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife will continue to monitor the property’s beach area, where the Service currently has jurisdiction. A trip to the waterfront via a small gravel road led to the scout’s swimming area. On the far shore, bald eagles were flying. Taylor proudly pointed out the birds, noting that the species is no longer on the endangered species list, but still are a protected species. Then there is Rocky View, an elevated point that provides a wonderful vista of Kentucky Lake. That’s the area most developers – including one local country music artist – wanted to develop.

Mrs. Williams said she and the Paris Landing staff are always visiting the students in school, now the students can come to them to see nature.

Rick Kriesky, director of the Henry County Schools, said, “There is no way to duplicate the instructional environment.” The schools currently use Land Between the Lakes for their environmental classrooms, however, the proximity of Camp Hazlewood is “great”, said Kriesky. He envisions retreats and teacher seminars being conducted at the camp.

Fathauer envisions the camp as one for historical and environmental studies. He noted that the history of the Civil War, Native Americans, and the lake could be provided at Camp Hazlewood.

That dovetails with a plan presented by Memphis-based Walker and Associates, which recommended a nature/outdoor center to attract more visitors to Henry County. Walker and Associates is developing a master plan to attract tourism, property development, and more retail dollars to the community. Their study is funded by the Tennessee River Resort Fund.

Canoes and life vests at the waterfront at Camp Hazlewood.

In an hour-long presentation in March, Andy Windham and Ryan O’Mallery of Walker and Associates outlined priorities according to residents and visitors’ surveys. A nature/outdoor center, a wider variety of restaurants, and a public beach were ranked as top priority for development, while an amphitheater, hotel/motel/lodges/bed and breakfasts, and clay target ranges received a lower priority.

High priority items are recommended for immediate action and include development of dining options, a nature/outdoor center and a public beach. Development of an amphitheater or sporting clays attraction was deemed as medium priority. Development of additional accommodations was categorized as low.

Henry County Mayor Brent Greer indicated that Henry County intends to use this report as a catalyst for action. “We plan to fully review these recommendations and use them to capitalize on our strengths,” said the mayor. This will help us enhance areas that are needed for successful tourism growth. The key fundamentals presented here will help us grow in directions that fit with the nature of Henry County.”

Windham said the residents of Henry County have shown lots of enthusiasm toward the River District project and look favorably toward tourism. The guiding principles in any development should be: (1) Do not harm the existing market strengths, (2) be organized and accountable, (3) respect community standards, and (4) remember that marketability is the key to make sound ideas to attract outside visitors.

A nature center would attract year-round visitors. A visitor’s center and nature trail could be incorporated to tell the unique history of Henry County. The lake, area wildlife, and Native American history were discussed as topics to highlight at the nature center.