29-519: Selkirk Shores State Park is a 980-acre (4.0 km) state park located in the Town of Richland in Oswego County , New York . The park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario . Selkirk Shores State Park features a swimming beach on Lake Ontario, hiking trails, campsites and cabins. The park is associated with the nearby Pine Grove Boat Launch , which provides access for small boats to
58-526: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of
87-589: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about
116-733: A list of potential scenic and historic state park sites. One of these recommended sites became West Virginia's first state park, Droop Mountain Battlefield , also in Pocahontas County. The park was acquired in 1928 and dedicated on July 4, 1929, to commemorate one of the largest battles in West Virginia during the American Civil War . Four other historic locations recommended by the commission had already been established and would later become state parks;
145-637: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use
174-622: A system of 37 state parks (including two rail trails ) and eight state forests totaling around 164,000 acres (66,368 ha) of land, which consists of nearly 12,000 acres (4,856 ha) of developed lands with recreational facilities and nearly 152,000 acres (61,512 ha) of undeveloped land. In total, West Virginia has over 1.6 million acres (6,475 km ) of state and federal protected lands . State parks and forests also feature more than 1,400 miles (2,253 km) of hiking trails across 45 areas. There are state parks in 30 of West Virginia's 55 counties with Pocahontas County having
203-645: Is between US$ 160.5 million and $ 189.5 million and for every $ 1 of general tax revenue provided to state parks and forests in 2016, $ 13.15 on average was generated in fresh revenue for the state. In 2016, visitors to state parks and forests spent $ 226.5 million throughout the state, of which 46% ($ 103.6 million) was spent by out-of-state visitors. The total economic activity attributed to visitors of state parks and forests in 2016 totaled between $ 213.4 million and $ 248.7 million. West Virginia's lumber and mineral exploitation had caused tremendous damage to much of its natural environment by
232-660: The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium, is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with
261-672: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . West Virginia state parks There are 37 state parks in the U.S. state of West Virginia as of 2017 . The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) Parks and Recreation Section is the governing body for all 37 state parks and directly operates all but one of them. In addition to state parks, the WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section governs eight state forests . The first West Virginia state park, Droop Mountain Battlefield ,
290-591: The 37 state parks governed by the WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section, 10 are lodge/resort state parks, 25 are cabin, camping, and day-use state parks, and 2 are rail trails . West Virginia's state parks are governed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) Parks and Recreation Section , which is under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Department of Commerce . The WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section manages
319-587: The Commission purchased land in Pocahontas County for a wildlife and timber preserve that later developed into Watoga. In their report to the Legislature in 1927, the Commission recommended that scenic natural areas be acquired and administered by a State Park System under the State Game and Fish Commission and that historical monuments be administered by a State Monuments System. They also identified
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#1732797809268348-467: The Division of State Parks had expanded to 13 state parks with the addition of its first USACE reservoir park at Tygart Lake. Because African Americans were denied access to West Virginia's state parks and forests, the Division of State Parks created the only state park on the basis of racial segregation, Booker T. Washington State Park , in 1949. African Americans were restricted from the remainder of
377-612: The NPS noted that West Virginia had made "large percentage gains" in adding refreshments facilities to its park system, which totaled 11. Revenue bonds allowed the park system to expand and upgrade recreational facilities and lodging throughout the 1950s, and by 1960, the Division of State Parks was operating 24 state parks consisting of 40,987 acres (16,587 ha). During the 1960s, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) federal loan program allowed
406-738: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with
435-478: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are
464-776: The earliest of these was the Point Pleasant Monument (now Tu-Endie-Wei), which had been acquired by the state in 1901 and dedicated in 1909. The Legislature established the West Virginia Conservation Commission Division of State Parks in 1933 to manage the state's growing park system, and to leverage the resources and expertise of the National Park Service (NPS), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and other New Deal-era programs for further park development. By 1945,
493-642: The early 20th century. The state recognized the need to designate and protect lands worthy of conservation, and in 1925 the West Virginia Legislature established the West Virginia State Forest, Park and Conservation Commission to assess the state's opportunities and needs for forests, parks, game preserves, and recreational areas. West Virginia's state park system began to take shape in January of that year, when
522-493: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to
551-439: The lower Salmon River . A "Bird Conservation Area" at the park protects breeding habitat for several regionally threatened bird species, including pied-billed grebes , American bitterns , least bitterns , and black terns . This article about a location in Oswego County, New York is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at
580-577: The most at five. WVDNR divides the state into six regional districts to administer its state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas . The largest state park by area is Watoga at 10,100 acres (4,087 ha), and Fairfax Stone and Tu-Endie-Wei are the smallest at four acres (1.6 ha). Four state parks have U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dams or reservoirs: Beech Fork , Bluestone , Stonewall Jackson Lake , and Tygart Lake . Nine state parks feature New Deal -era buildings and structures completed between 1933 and 1942; Lost River has
609-1068: The most with 78. Cathedral is the only state park designated a National Natural Landmark , and Grave Creek Mound is the only state park to have ever been designated a National Historic Landmark . Stonewall Jackson Lake is the first and only West Virginia state park to be developed, constructed, financed, and operated through a public–private partnership . As of 2016 , the WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section directly employed more than 400 full-time and around 1,000 seasonal and summer employees who serviced approximately 7.1 million visitors (65% state residents and 35% out-of-state). WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section personnel maintain over 2.5 million square feet (232,258 m ) of indoor space in more than 1,500 buildings in West Virginia state parks and forests, which have an inventory of 818 lodge rooms, 369 cabins, 1,522 campsites, 144 picnic shelters, and 549 playground units. The total economic impact of West Virginia state parks and forests annually
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#1732797809268638-474: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by
667-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park
696-582: The state park and forest systems until the park and forest systems' integration following the Brown v. Board of Education decision by the United States Supreme Court in May 1954. By 1950, the Division of State Parks was operating 16 state parks totaling 35,973 acres (14,558 ha) and by 1954, the state had expanded to 20 state parks totaling 40,355 acres (16,331 ha). That year,
725-742: The state to add three new parks to its system: Canaan Valley Resort , Pipestem Resort , and Twin Falls Resort . Visitors to West Virginia state parks and forests totaled 4.3 million by 1968 and almost 5 million in 1971. Following the Legislature's passing of the Economic Development Act of 1985, the West Virginia Division of Parks and Recreation was transferred from the West Virginia Conservation Commission to
754-506: The sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in
783-404: Was acquired in 1928 and dedicated in 1929; and the newest state parks, Stonewall Jackson Lake and North Bend Rail Trail , were opened in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Four parks that later joined the state park system were established prior to Droop Mountain, the earliest being the Point Pleasant Monument (now Tu-Endie-Wei ) in 1901. There are seven former West Virginia state parks: one state park
812-473: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like
841-483: Was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS), one to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, one to the West Virginia Division of Highways , and one to a municipality, and three have ceased to exist entirely. This list provides an overview of West Virginia state parks and a brief history of their development and governance since the first state park was dedicated in 1929. State parks range in size from 4 acres (2 ha) to 10,100 acres (4,087 ha). Of
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