$300K Grant for Duck River Safety in Bedford County

From left in the photo are Assistant Chief Brian Cantrell of Bedford County Fire Department, representing Chief Mark Thomas; County Finance Director Robert Daniel; County Commissioner Linda Yockey; David Kitchens, director of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency; citizen and activist Van Ayers, who wrote the grant application; and county commissioner / former EMA director Scott Johnson. Not pictured is Highway Superintendent Mark Clanton.

Bedford County has secured a $300,000 state grant to improve safety along the Duck River Blueway, a popular stretch of water used by kayakers, canoeists and outdoor enthusiasts. The funding, announced by Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, comes from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Recreational Trails Program, which supports trail and waterway projects across the state. County officials plan to use the grant to install new signage and navigational markers, as well as purchase water rescue equipment to strengthen emergency response on the river. The Duck River, which flows 284 miles entirely within Tennessee, is renowned for its biodiversity and serves as a drinking water source for roughly 250,000 residents. Marsh said the improvements will make the river safer and more accessible while encouraging responsible recreation and boosting local tourism. The project is part of a broader state effort to enhance outdoor infrastructure, and detailed plans for the upgrades will be finalized in coordination with TDEC in the months ahead.