Longtime Tennessee Parks and conservation advocate Jim Fyke has passed away. He was 78-years-old.
Fyke died Tuesday following a long battle with cancer.
He more than any other single individual was largely responsible for expanding and protecting Metro and state parks.
His modesty and easy manner made him easy to like and very effective at getting things done.
Fyke was a top aide for several Nashville mayors and during his tenure as Metro Parks Director, the number of parks here in the city increased from 57 to 100.
He later headed up the state Department of Environment and Conservation, protecting thousands of acres in Tennessee for parks and greenways.
Fyke served on many other boards and in recent years, had a hand in everything from the new Sounds stadium to the facelift for the Parthenon and Centennial Sportsplex.
