Tennesse State Parks Receive Gold Medal Award

Every two years the National Recreation and Park Association selects a state park system to receive the prestigious Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the highest honor a park system can receive within the industry. Winners are determined by a panel of parks and recreation professionals that evaluate application materials with an emphasis on long-range planning, resource management, citizen support systems, environmental stewardship, program and professional development and agency recognition.

This year the state parks of Georgia, Tennessee and Utah were finalists for the Gold Medal Award. On September 26th at the National Recreation and Park Association Congress in Indianapolis, Tennessee State Parks was named Gold Medal Winner for 2007. Tennessee had been a finalist for this award previously, but had never won.

Some key accomplishments of Tennessee State Parks since 2003 identified by Gold Medal judges include:

• Reopening 14 parks that had been previously closed.
• Removing restrictive access fees from the 23 state parks that had instituted them.
• Acquiring park adjacent properties which were deemed to have exceptional conservation value.
• Partnering with the Nature Conservancy and conservation-minded timber companies to protect 124,000 acres on the Northern Cumberland Plateau.
• Working with community organizations and other partners to open the first Boundless Playground at a state park anywhere in the country at Warriors' Path State Park.
• Purchasing renewable "Green Power" in all state parks where it's available.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke was at the NRPA Congress to receive the award. He credited the dedication, expertise and commitment of everyone -- from the support of Governor Phil Bredesen to every park ranger and staff member in the field –- to create the kind of progress that merited the honor.

Tennessee State Parks is celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2007 at each of its 54 locations and 77 State Natural Areas. From the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, Tennessee State Parks offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities and natural experiences for more than 25 million visitors annually.

Further information:

Tennessee State Parks official web site
Tennessee State Parks Grand Award Gold Medal video
Tennessee Tourism Department official web site