[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING NASHVILLE METROPOLITAN PARK SYSTEM FOR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO 
                          TENNESSEE RESIDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB CLEMENT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2001

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the park system of 
Nashville, Tennessee, on its 100th Anniversary of existence.
  The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, under the direction 
of Mr. James H. Fyke, currently oversees parks, historic sites, 
community centers, greenways, art galleries, golf courses, swimming 
pools, senior centers, and numerous other facilities which add to the 
quality of life for the 5th Congressional District of Tennessee.
  Mr. Fyke and his staff are ardent supporters of the community by 
offering professionalism and vision as the parks system makes the 
transition into the 21st Century. The continued support of the 
Nashville Metropolitan Government over the years has been a crucial 
factor in the upkeep and maintenance of these properties, which benefit 
so many Nashvillians.
  The Tennessee General Assembly approved legislation to enact and 
charter the Nashville Park System on April 13, 1901. That same year 
Mayor James Head appointed five individuals to the very first City Park 
Commission. On their first meeting, April 16, they began work with one 
mule, a handful of employees, one park, and no financial support 
whatsoever.
  Nashville's first official park was Watkins Park, followed by 
Centennial Park in 1902. By 1903, the City Park Commission had an 
annual operating budget of $25,000, and employed Robert Creighton as 
the first Superintendent of Parks.
  It wasn't until 1912 that additional parks were added to the system. 
These included Hadley and Shelby Parks. The first community center was 
added to Centennial Park just four year later, while the first public 
golf course opened in Shelby Park in 1924.
  One of the crown jewels in the Nashville Park System is the Warner 
Parks, which the city acquired in 1926. To date the Warner Parks, 
located at Old Hickory Boulevard near Bellevue, offer 2,681 acres of 
natural beauty for the public to explore and enjoy, along with a Nature 
Center, picnic area, two golf courses, hiking and driving trails, and 
much more.
  Another significant landmark belonging to the Nashville Park System 
is the Parthenon, the only full-scale replica of the original in 
existence. It was originally created as a temporary structure for the 
Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, reflecting the city's nickname 
as ``The Athens of the South''. It was rebuilt during the 1920s and 
officially re-opened its doors to visitors from around the world during 
the 1930s. The structure is nearing the conclusion of a $13 million 
renovation and today houses many of the city's official art 
collections, while hosting visiting artwork from around the world. It 
is also the home to Athena, a 42-foot statue said to be the tallest 
indoor sculpture in the Western World.
  The 1940s saw construction of the first gymnasium in Elizabeth Park 
Community Center and the first running of the Iroquois Steeplechase in 
Percy Warner Park. As the Park System celebrated its 50th Anniversary 
in the 1950s, the Cumberland Golf Course opened its doors as the first 
black golf course. However, by the end of the fifties segregation of 
Nashville's golf courses ceased for good.
  The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation as we know it today, 
first met on June 5, 1963. By 1976 the parks system had earned for 
itself an outstanding reputation and as such was selected as the most 
outstanding local agency in the United States. The seventies saw much 
activity as Greer Stadium, home of Nashville Sounds baseball, Fort 
Negley Park, Ice Centennial ice rink, Wave Country, and Hamilton Creek 
Sailboard Marina all opened to the public under the direction of newly 
appointed parks director Jim Fyke.
  The now popular Riverfront Park was added in 1983, which has become 
the site of the city's annual Independence Day Celebration and numerous 
concerts and festivities. During the 1990s the following additions were 
made to the Nashville Parks System--the Centennial Sportsplex opened, 
the Metro Greenway Commission was created, Ted Rhodes Golf Course re-
opened, Grassmere Wildlife Park was acquired, Metro Parks received the 
largest land donation in its history of 1500 acres, Shelby Bottoms 
opened, the Predators Ice Practice Facility opened, and many other 
improvements were implemented.
  Most recently the parks system dedicated the new McCabe Golf 
Clubhouse and the VinnyLinks First Tee Golf Course and Learning Center 
in Shelby Park in 2000. Also, the countywide parks/greenways master 
plan will offer numerous improvements well into the 21st Century.
  Today Metro Parks celebrates 100 years of existence with 93 parks, 
9,350 total acres, 450 year round employees and 350 seasonal employees, 
as well as, 173 tennis courts, 85 ballfields, 14 swimming pools, 25 
community centers, and 7 golf courses. The system also offers a 
sailboat marina, a wave action pool, 2 indoor ice rinks, 2 indoor 
tennis centers, a zoo, a nature center, a children's museum, a 
countywide greenway/trail system and a professional baseball stadium.
  Metro Parks is to be commended for its legacy of excellence and 
service to the Nashville/Davidson County community for the past 100 
years. May it continue to grow, prosper, and impact our region in the 
21st Century. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.+

                          ____________________