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TENNESSEE
STATE
PARKS
NAMED
BEST
IN
NATION
Article
courtesy
of
the
Tennessee
Tourism
Department
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Photo
courtesy
Tennessee
Tourism
Dept.
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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.
On
Sept.
26,
Tennessee
State
Parks
was
named
Gold
Medal
Winner
for
2007
at
the
National
Recreation
and
Park
Association
Congress
in
Indianapolis. |
Tennessee
had
been
a
finalist
for
this
award
previously,
but
had
never
won.
The
state
parks
of
Georgia,
Tennessee
and
Utah
were
finalists
for
the
Gold
Medal
Award.
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.
Key
accomplishments
of
Tennessee
State
Parks
since
2003
identified
by
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
with
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
in
a
U.S.
state
park
at
Warriors'
Path
State
Park;
and
purchasing
renewable
"green
power"
in
all
state
parks
where
it
is
available.
Tennessee
Department
of
Environment
and
Conservation
Commissioner
Jim
Fyke
was
at
the
NRPA
Congress
to
receive
this
recognition.
“I
am
extremely
proud
of
the
parks
professionals
and
staff
at
Tennessee
State
Parks,”
said
Commissioner
Fyke.
"This
tremendous
accomplishment
is
a
tribute
to
their
dedication,
expertise
and
commitment.
It
took
an
outstanding
team
effort,
from
the
support
of
Governor
Phil
Bredesen
to
every
park
ranger
and
staff
member
in
the
field,
to
create
the
kind
of
progress
that
merits
this
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
full
range
of
recreational
opportunities
and
natural
experiences
for
more
than
25
million
visitors
annually.
“From
our
thousands
of
miles
of
hiking
trails
and
unique
interpretative
programs
to
our
inns
and
world-class
golf
courses,
Tennessee
State
Parks
amplify
the
beauty
and
diversity
of
our
state’s
natural
scenery,”
said
Assistant
Commissioner
Mike
Carlton.
“I
hope
this
national
recognition
will
encourage
people
across
the
United
States
to
come
and
enjoy
our
good
nature
at
Tennessee
State
Parks.”
Tennessee - state parks named best in
nation
What
do
you
think?
...
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Readers'
comments:
terry regennitter
:
We volunteer at Ga. St. Parks because they give you 5 nights free camping, full hook up with cable and wi-fi at many camp grounds and laundry. What does Tenn. offer???
Mary Campbell
:
My husband biked the Natchez Trace this spring and we camped in our RV along the route. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. The campgrounds were right where we needed them. They were immaculate and friendly and the Ole Trace was spectacular. From this experience we plan on doing alot more camping in the Tennessee State Parks next year.
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