Following the most severe storm damage in park history, Percy Warner Park reopens in record time thanks to Metro Parks, contracted crews, and community support.
After weeks of intensive cleanup and restoration, we are pleased to announce that Percy Warner Park will reopen to the public on Saturday, March 21.
This marks a major milestone in the recovery from Ice Storm Fern, an event that caused unprecedented damage across both Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. What many initially expected to take several months has been accomplished in just a matter of weeks.
In just a few short weeks, what looked like months of damage has been transformed into a safe and welcoming Park once again.
What’s Open (Starting March 21)
- Primitive trails
- Paved trails
- Horse trails
- Shelters
What Remains Closed
- Mountain bike trails
- Vaughn’s Creek Cross Country Course
- Burch Reserve
Safety Reminder
Crews and heavy equipment are still active throughout both Percy and Edwin Warner Parks.
For your safety—and to support ongoing work—please respect all posted closures and avoid any coned-off areas.
A Record-Breaking Recovery Effort
This reopening represents an extraordinary achievement following the most severe weather event in the history of Warner Parks. The scale of damage impacted miles of trails, roadways, and natural areas across both parks.
The speed of this recovery reflects an unprecedented level of coordination and effort across multiple teams, all working toward a shared goal: restoring safe access to these treasured public spaces as quickly as possible.
With Gratitude to Our Partners and Community
This progress would not have been possible without the dedication of so many individuals and organizations.
With sincere thanks to:
- Metro Parks & Recreation for their leadership and commitment
- The Warner Park Nature Center staff
- Contracted crews from Save A Tree, Davey Tree, Bartlett Tree Experts, and Tanksley
- The Warner Parks SWEAT (Summer Warner Parks Environmental Awareness Team) crew
- Our volunteers and donors
- And the many others who contributed time, expertise, and support
Their collective efforts made it possible to reopen the parks safely—and far sooner than expected.
Looking Ahead
While we celebrate this milestone, recovery work will continue in the weeks ahead. Additional cleanup, repairs, and restoration efforts are still underway in several areas of the parks.
We are grateful for the community’s patience, cooperation, and care as we complete this important work.
We look forward to welcoming you back and continuing this recovery together.
Support Recovery Efforts
As work continues across the Parks, we invite those who are able to consider supporting these efforts. Donations to Friends of Warner Parks help fund critical cleanup, trail restoration, and stewardship work in the weeks and months ahead.
Your support makes a meaningful difference as we continue caring for these treasured spaces.
