In the words of the newer translations of Ecclesiastes - Meaningless, meaningless, meaningless.
It is a state park of sorts, but with a rather large organization that helps regulate it. That rather large organization is replete with a cohort of overzealous sycophants who are only happy with no disruption to their world disorder. All other state lakes allow swimming and fishing - oh no, not this one. All other state parks allow activities off-trail - if I wanted to take a macro picture of a wildflower 30' off-trail - oh no, not in their world - it is a rather large fine. No picnics allowed! If a tree falls in the forest, it just lays there to rot even if someone hears it fall. They'll allow the part that may have fallen on a trail to be cut out, but only to the width of the trail - and the cut piece has to be lain down besides the rest of the trunk. There is a paved road along one side of the lake - can we drive on it - not anymore. They have fund-raisers to increase coffers so they can have more cotillions. tic. Lil Mikey thought - hmmmm - lots of downed wood just laying there rotting, why not gather some that was along the trails and turn it int woodturnings they could sell at one of their fund-raisers. Brilliant idea - or so he thought. He inquired of a park ranger, who referred me to the head park ranger, who referred me to the organization - NOPE. It's not the way of nature he was told. So asking to collect the said burl, would violate the rules against off-trail use and not be the way of nature! They like to call it Nashville's Walden.
Another example of the strictness. It's a state park somewhat run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Quite a number of years ago, the bossman was a very good friend of the governor - heck, I was too - had his private number on my phone. Bossman was appointed as a Wildlife Commissioner, meaning he was one of a handful that oversaw the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. He was an avid duck hunter, and also like to fish. Jokingly, I asked him if he could get us permission to fish the lake, perhaps even shoot a duck (knew that could not happen as it is within the city limits of Nashville, and the discharge of a gun upon a duck or any animal is strictly verboten). Well, he took me serious and asked the Gov. After two years of trying, he gave up, even the Gov. couldn't/wouldn't get us permission. H. E. double hockey sticks, he was a proud bachelor all his life and was probably afraid of those crazy women and their cronies.
