Bredesen, Fyke Recognized for Parks and Conservation Leadership

Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association Presented Awards at Annual Conference

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke have been recognized by the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association for their leadership in protecting and improving priority lands, parks and recreational opportunities in the state of Tennessee.  TRPA announced awards for each at the opening of its annual conference in Murfreesboro.

 

The Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association awarded Bredesen with the 2010 Legislative Award for his dedication in working for positive public policy for all Tennesseans in the area of parks, recreation and conservation.  Fyke received the President’s Award and TRPA’s Lifetime Membership Award honoring more than 46 years of public service benefiting parks and conservation in Tennessee. 

 

“Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Fyke have worked together, and with parks and conservation partners in both the public and private sectors, to literally improve the landscape for the people of Tennessee for generations into the future,” said Candi Rawlins, Executive Director of the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association.  “We’re appreciative of their work, which positively impacts our quality of life in the state.”

 

Bredesen Administration parks and conservation highlights since 2003 involving the Department of Environment and Conservation, include:

 

• Working to protect and make publically available more than 200,000 acres for the people of Tennessee, including the 127,000-acre “Connecting the Cumberlands” acquisition;
• Opening all Tennessee State Parks closed in the previous administration, and removing access fees from the parks that previously instituted them;
• Leading the Tennessee State Parks system to national recognition as the best state parks system in the country in 2007 with a National Gold Medal Award; and
• Providing unprecedented support to local communities, administering more than $36.5 million in grants to improve and expand local parks and recreation spaces.

The Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association is an organization comprised of more than 1,100 professional and citizen members who work to achieve healthy, livable communities by strengthening and uniting those committed to the benefits of parks and recreation.  They advocate the importance of thriving, local park systems; the opportunity for all Tennesseans to lead healthy, active lifestyles; and the preservation of great community spaces.  For more information about TRPA, visit www.TRPA.net or call Executive Director Candi Rawlins at (615) 790-0041.

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