The Cook Recreation Area is a 220-acre public-use nature area on the Eastern shore of Percy Priest Lake in southeastern Davidson County on the Stones River. Percy Priest Dam, Lake, and surrounding land are federal lands controlled and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). At the time of the acquisition of lands for construction of the dam and creation of the lake, USACE designated a protective shoreline buffer around the lake up to the height of the overflow of the dam. This buffer area includes the 220 acres known as the Cook Recreation Area as well as other recreation areas. From the beginning this area was designated as a Public Use Area for the benefit of the general public.
Currently, the USACE is considering a proposal to change management of Cook Recreation Area through a long-term lease to a private partner. This lease would include all of the 220 acres of this public-use area and would designate how this land could be developed and managed. (See video below.)
In this time of ever-expanding residential areas with small lawns in this area of Metro-Davidson County, there is a great need for the preservation of Green Areas in nature and for keeping the area free or low cost to be enjoyed by all socio-economic groups.