NC State Parks
Government AdministrationNorth Carolina, United States51-200 Employees
NC State Parks is a government agency based in Raleigh, North Carolina, entrusted with managing the state's parks system while preserving natural resources and supporting outdoor recreation and environmental education. Administered by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, the system comprises 41 state parks and state recreation areas, along with 33 undeveloped conservation areas stretching from the mountains to the coast. A professional ranger corps leads enforcement, environmental education, natural resource protection, search-and-rescue, wildfire suppression, and medical first response, supported by maintenance staff and park office personnel. The organization also relies on specialists in natural resources, planning, trails, exhibits, construction, and land protection to sustain its operations. Its primary audience consists of visitors seeking outdoor experiences and communities benefiting from managed natural spaces, with the parks offering access, safety, and educational opportunities. In May 2026, Turner was promoted to superintendent of Merchants Millpond State Park.