Friends of Radnor Lake Present Governor Phil Bredesen with Environmental Award

View a photo gallery of the award presentation ceremony Joan Armour speaks with Governor Phil Bredesen before the Friends of Radnor Lake award ceremony.

Governor Bredesen and Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke are joined by Friends of Radnor Lake during the April 20 award ceremony at the park.

Doris Dumont tells Governor Phil Bredesen about the stained glass piece she created to accompany his Friends of Radnor Lake 2007 Environmental Award. Doris has worked in the tiffany style of stained glass crafting for over 30 years. She has taught at Volunteer State College and has completed a series of six glass windows depicting the Trail of Tears now installed in the Red Clay State Park visitor center.

Friends of Radnor Lake gathered on April 20 to present their seventh annual Environmental Award to Governor Phil Bredesen at Radnor Lake’s Netherton Point. This award ceremony culminated a variety of activities celebrating Tennessee State Natural Areas Week at Radnor Lake. Established in 2001, the Friends’ award acknowledges individuals for a lifetime of achievement in protecting for perpetuity the natural resources of Tennessee.

“Gov. Bredesen really appreciates and enjoys Tennessee’s natural beauty,” said Ann Tidwell, Friends of Radnor Lake president. “For many years, he has tried to save Tennessee’s unique landscapes and biological diversity from destruction. We are delighted to honor and applaud his achievements, vision, and leadership in working to save the best of Tennessee for us and future generations.”

Bredesen noted the need to conserve undeveloped land in his State of the State address earlier this year: “In Tennessee, we are blessed with some of the most beautiful and fruitful land and water on the face of the earth. If we are diligent in protecting that land and creating special new places, future generations and visitors to our state, alike, will have hundreds of thousands of acres of protected land for their use… for hiking and picnicking and hunting and fishing, and just for enjoying with their own families the beauty of God's creation here in Tennessee.”

The governor has made land conservation a priority, and in his first term the state protected more than 30,000 acres of ecologically and culturally significant land for future generations. The state of Tennessee has also established critical infrastructure and partnerships to continue the governor’s conservation priorities.

Tennessee State Parks have also thrived since Bredesen’s arrival in 2003. Fourteen state parks closed by the prior administration were reopened, an access fee program previously implemented at 23 state parks has been removed, and under the leadership of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke, Tennessee State Parks have been selected as a finalist in 2005 and 2007 for the National Recreation Parks Association’s Gold Medal Award as best state park system in the country.

“Recognizing Governor Bredesen’s significant conservation achievements as a public and private citizen across two decades is a fitting way to celebrate State Natural Areas Week in Tennessee,” said Jim Fyke, Environment and Conservation Commissioner. “From his role in creating the Land Trust for Tennessee to his leadership in establishing the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, Phil Bredesen is making a real difference for the people and special places in our state.”

Tennessee State Natural Areas Week was established to raise awareness of the unique properties that have been preserved under the Natural Areas Preservation Act. Through the act, the state General Assembly has designated 75 natural areas across the state. Today, the natural areas program protects more than 100,000 acres of ecologically significant lands.

Administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the program has preserved some of Tennessee’s most pristine wetlands and swamps, globally rare glades and diverse barrens, vast gulf forests and mountainous landscapes. The state’s natural areas also protect the habitats of many of Tennessee’s rarest plants and animals, areas of geological and archeological interest and areas of great scenic beauty. State laws restrict incompatible development and public use activities that may damage the areas. Activities in these areas are generally limited to hiking and other forms of passive recreation.