Bays Mountain Park Manager receives state award
The City of Kingsport is proud to announce that Megan Krager – Park Manager at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium – has been awarded the Resource Management Award of Excellence.
Krager received this award during the 74th annual Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association (TRPA) Conference held earlier this month at the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center.
This award recognizes professionals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence in the field of facility and natural resource management. Krager was selected for the award for her exceptional leadership in guiding Bays Mountain Park’s recovery and restoration efforts following Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“Megan’s leadership during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene was exemplary and went a long way to ensure park repairs and clean-up moved quickly and efficiently,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Borders. “This is definitely a well-deserved recognition.”
Krager has served with the City of Kingsport since 2017 and has led Bays Mountain Park through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Under her direction, park staff and volunteers worked tirelessly clearing thousands of fallen trees, securing damaged buildings and animal habitats and caring for the park’s exhibit animals with no power and limited water for nearly two weeks.
In the months that followed, Krager transformed recovery into opportunity by overseeing the successful application of a Tennessee State Museum grant to repair park infrastructure and worked to plan the park’s first ever prescribed burn – a major step to proactively manage disaster risk.
The prescribed burn, planned in coordination with Dobyns-Bennett High School, the Kingsport Fire Department, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, worked to reduce the potential for wildfire at the park and promote forest regeneration.
“Through her commitment to professional resource management, Megan has strengthened Bays Mountain Park’s legacy as one of Tennessee’s premier outdoor destinations,” Borders added.
For more information about Bays Mountain Park visit www.baysmountain.com.
