9/21/2011
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirteen state park systems, including West Virginia’s, are included in a newly revised edition of “Histories of the Southeastern State Parks Systems,” according to Robert Beanblossom, district administrator with West Virginia’s state parks. The 220-page volume covers the histories of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and
West Virginia. The book is a project of The Association of Southeastern State Park Directors. This third edition includes updates of each state’s parks with photographs. The volume was edited by Beanblossom and designed by Andrew Stout.
“The Association of Southeastern State Park Directors was formed in 1942 when World War II was upon us,” Beanblossom said. “The groundwork, many structures, and foundations of state parks in the United States had come into being under the New Deal with work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to the war. With many of the CCC boys going off to war and CCC camps closing, parks faced an uncertain future. State park directors were charged with managing areas developed by the work of the CCC. The Association was created to be a tool to meet an uncertain future for public recreation.”
“Histories of the Southeastern State Parks Systems” includes each of the 13 state park systems’ development, the number of areas and acreage, mission and development phases, and images spanning the history of each state’s park system. Inclusion of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ contribution to building parks, the Works Progress Administration programs, Land Water Conservations funded areas, and programs specific to states, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, are part of the rich history of the southeastern state parks in the United States.
Limited numbers of copies of this history book are available at Babcock, Pipestem, and Twin Falls state parks or by contacting Beanblossom at the Division of Natural Resources office in South Charleston at 304-558-2764 or
Robert.L.Beanblossom@wv.gov. The cost is $10.95.
Contact Information
Robert Beanblossom, Parks and Recreation Section
304-558-2764
Robert.L.Beanblossom@wv.gov