Still more projects will replace elements of the park's overused and aging infrastructure. Last, but certainly not least, are projects which will help ensure the survival of many animal and plant species which are native to the Great Smoky Mountains. Friends of Great Smoky Mountains are looking for others who share a love for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and are willing to support the park with their personal and corporate gifts. The popularity of the Great Smoky Mountains has led to the overuse of trails and facilities and placed a severe strain on the already limited resources of the National Park Service. The Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park was organized in 1993 by a group of interested citizens from North Carolina and Tennessee dedicated to restoring, preserving and enhancing the nation's most frequently visited national park.
Funding is sought for both short term and long range priorities.
The Friends welcome gifts of cash, stock, and real property, as well as gifts in kind, memorial contributions, estate-related gifts, and volunteer help.