Natural Resources & Environmental Education

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What are natural resources?

The Germantown Parks and Recreation Natural Resources division is responsible for park rangers, environmental education programs, tree inventory around the city and much more as it relates to the outdoors. The Natural Resource Manager also serves as the City Arborist taking tree inventory, locating hazardous trees and creating and overseeing the City’s tree plan.

Environmental Education

Environmental education programs are offered to help the community learn more about the great outdoors and how to be good environmental stewards. Hands-on learning activities are also available for classroom or field trip experiences. Classes are designed for children and adults and are facilitated by park rangers. Classes can take place in the classroom or in a City park. For more information, call (901) 757-7375.

Park Rangers

The City’s Park Rangers patrol our 31 parks and public spaces to ensure they are safe, clean and ready for visitors. Park Rangers serve in a variety of roles such as environmental education, natural resource work, trail maintenance, assisting fire and police, and assisting with a variety of events and programs throughout the year.

Volunteer Ranger Reserves
Volunteer Ranger Reserves supplement the park rangers by assisting at city events, patrolling parks on a volunteer basis, and assisting the Natural Resources manager with other duties as needed.

Tree City USA/Tree City of the World

Germantown has been recognized as both a Tree City USA and Tree City of the World for more than 30 years. These designations are given to Cities and towns who celebrate, maintain and grow their tree canopy. For more information, visit arborday.org.

Living Legacy

The Germantown Living Legacy is a plan to coordinate landscape design for public areas in the city. The trees planted through this plan will give joy to residents and visitors who pass through Germantown for many years. A Living Legacy can be a gift to honor or to memorialize. It can welcome a newborn child, honor a special teacher, surprise a friend, thank a coach, or a speaker or an officer of a civic organization. It is the perfect "easy to give" gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday, holiday, or graduation day. It could be a "welcome to Germantown" gift or it could be we're sorry to see you leave Germantown" going away gift. Living Legacy Brochure

Nature Areas in Germantown

Forest Hill Natural Area - 12 acres east of the Forest Hill Elementary School. The natural area is managed by the Natural Resources Division as open space for wildlife and stormwater management. Currently, no recreation amenities exist at this site.

Wolf River Nature Area - 7014 Wolf River Boulevard - Nestled along the Wolf River, the 150-acre nature reserve provides a river's edge experience. The area features four educational stations, several plant displays, two picnic areas, scenic overlooks, rest areas and restrooms. Parking is available at multiple areas along Wolf River Boulevard, through entrances across from Poplar Estates Park and adjacent to the natural gas pumping station, at the new trail head located east of the Kimbrough/Wolf River Boulevard traffic light and at Neshoba and Cameron Brown Parks.

Riverwoods State Area - Wolf River Boulevard and Kimbrough Road

Riverwoods is a 21-acre natural area located along the Wolf River at the junction of Wolf River Boulevard and Kimbrough Road. Riverwoods is situated in a densely urban setting, but provides refuge for plants and wildlife. It is a small biological island that was formerly part of a larger forested area. Although Riverwoods is a state natural area, the City of Germantown manages the area and has developed a primitive trail system and raised boardwalks.

Germantown Greenway System - More than 10 miles of a planned 22-mile trail system are complete, offering a paved pathway for walkers, runners and bicyclists. Sections are open along the Wolf River, beginning at Neshoba Park, and between Johnson Road Park and Houston Levee Park. Designed as a linear park, the Germantown Greenway will eventually encircle the City, linking parks, schools and neighborhoods.