16-597: The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is a protected marine park located in Western Australia and stretches from the northern point of the Garden Island Causeway to the southern point of Becher Point . The 6,540-hectare (16,200-acre) marine park is located offshore from the suburban locality of Shoalwater . Several small limestone islands are located within the boundaries of the marine park, but not part of it, including Seal Island , which
32-526: 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
48-589: 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
64-699: 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
80-723: Is part of the Shoalwater Bay Islands Nature Reserve, and Penguin Island , which is part of the Penguin Island Conservation Park. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at 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
96-721: The Caddo River in 1963, and support for a state park began growing shortly after. The park was created in 1974, and the resort and golf course were added by 1975. DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers many different opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts such as fishing, swimming, water skiing, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and boating. Basketball courts and tennis courts are also available. For campers, there are 113 class A sites in addition to RV sites. The marina offers full range of services as well as boat slips, party barges, flatbottom boats, paddle boats, canoe, paddleboards and kayaks for rent. Picnic tables are scattered throughout
112-745: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . DeGray Lake Resort State Park DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a 984-acre (398 ha) Arkansas state park in Clark and Hot Spring counties , Arkansas in the United States . Situated in the Ouachita Mountains , the park features the 13,800-acre (5,600 ha) DeGray Lake , the park features a championship rated 18 hole golf course and Arkansas's only state park resort. The United States Army Corps of Engineers began constructing DeGray Dam on
128-897: The administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in 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
144-506: The birds and other wildlife that abound here. The front nine offers wide, expansive fairways with elevated, undulating and sloping greens, tee boxes and hidden water hazards. The back nine are carved out of the woodlands leaving little room for stray shots. The course offers a driving range, practice green, chipping area and lessons, from the blue tees the course is 7,100 yards (6,500 m), from the white-6,560 yards (6,000 m), gold-6,200 yards (5,700 m) and red-5,800 yards (5,300 m). The course rating
160-738: 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
176-478: 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
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#1732800911794192-493: 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
208-516: The park, with the Caddo Bend Day-Use Area and private pavilion also available. The 94-room DeGray Lodge and Convention center is available for family reunions, retreats, board meeting, conventions and stunning lake front weddings. The Shoreline Restaurant and DeGray Day Spa are located at the lodge. DeGray's challenging 18-hole championship-rated public course stretches 7,100 yards (6,500 m). The course offers opportunities to view
224-474: 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
240-454: 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
256-473: 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
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