The citizens who promoted the park formed an organization known as "Friends of Bays Mountain." After the City built the park, they reorganized, changed the name to "The Bays Mountain Park Association," and obtained a classication of 501(c)(3) from the IRS. This classification is for non-profit organizations and permits tax-deductible contributions to be made to the Association.

The purposes of the Association are twofold: First, to give its members unlimited access to the park when it is open; and second, to assist the park and the park staff in any way possible. Assistance is given by volunteers who meet the public, assist in instruction of school groups, lead nature hikes, and answer questions about the park and its facilities, exhibits, and programs, as well as helping the staff "back-stage." The Association also runs the gift shop in the nature center. Functionally, the Association reports to the Bays Mountain Park Commission, which is a group charged by the City of Kingsport with setting park policies.

The Association's income consists of membership fees, profits from the gift shop, and contributions. All surplus funds are given each year to the Bays Mountain Park Commission and are used for new equipment, facilities, and other improvements to the park that would not ordinarily be funded by the City of Kingsport.