Pat McCrory February 201 5
Governor
Volume 2 Number 1
Donald R. van der Vaart
Secretary, DENR
State parks report record attendance of 15.6 million in 2014
North Carolina’s state parks and state recreation areas had record attendance in 2014, with 15.6
million visitors, a 10 percent increase over 14.2 million the previous year.
Among 39 state parks and state recreation areas, 27 reported increases in attendance in 2014.
William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County reported the highest attendance at 1.3 million visits,
and was among six state park units logging more than a million visitors. The others were Fort Macon
and Jockey’s Ridge state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas.
“Record visitation in 2014 dramatically reflects the value North Carolinians place on our state
parks, especially for the communities where they’re located and their economies,” said Mike Murphy,
state parks director. “The state parks system will hold its centennial in 2016 and planning is underway
for special events and opportunities to celebrate a system that has become an institution for recreation,
conservation and connection with nature in our state”
Over the past 25 years, attendance at state parks has nearly doubled. In 1989, eight million
people visited state parks and state recreation areas.
A number of factors likely contributed to the record visitation, among them a long list of special
events at the parks, beginning with First Day Hikes on Jan. 1. More than two dozen events were sched¬
uled for National Trails Day in June and every park held special interpretive programs during Take a
Child Outside Week in September.
And, newly created events began to gain traction, including a paddle festival at Hammocks
Beach State Park and a long-distance hiking challenge at Hanging Rock State Park. Additionally, no
parks were closed for extended periods due to weather emergencies or construction.
The new Carvers Creek State Park in Cumberland County logged its fbst fall year of operation,
reporting 74,220 visitors. Parks reporting the largest increases in visitation included Crowders Moun¬
tain in Gaston County (65 percent), Hammocks Beach in Onslow County (32 percent), Lake Norman in
Iredell County (70 percent), Lake Waccamaw in Columbus County (26 percent) and Morrow Mountain
in Stanly County (64 percent).
Lake James is NC State Park of the Year
Lake .lames State Park in Burke and McDowell counties has been named the North Carolina 2014
State Park of the Year.
The park was chosen for its “exemplary contribution to the
North Carolina state parks mission of stewardship, public service and
education,” and specifically recognized for initiatives in natural resource
management, volunteerism and expanded recreation opportunities.
“Lake James State Park is fulfilling the promise it has held since
2004 when it was expanded with 2,900 acres of property acquired from
Crescent Resources Inc. Its staff has been adept at balancing exciting
new recreation opportunities with careful protection of natural resourc¬
es on that property,” said Mike Murphy, state parks director.
During the year, Lake James opened a 15-mile network of
Continued Other Side
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NC Division of Parks and Recreation
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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