Ken Caplinger has been named Chief of the Parks and Recreation Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, according to WVDNR Director Frank Jezioro. Caplinger, 51, has been with the State Parks System for nearly 30 years and has served as acting parks chief for the past two years.
"Ken Caplinger brings an extensive background in both parks management and effective marketing to the job, "said Jezioro. "Ken has grown up in the state park system, and knows its operations and history better than anyone. As acting chief for the past two years he has demonstrated that he has the ability to work effectively with many different audiences interested in the parks. I'm confident that our state's park system will continue to grow and improve, and to become an even bigger part of West Virginia's overall tourism plan."
Caplinger is a native and life-long West Virginian. He graduated from Mountaineer High School in Davis, West Virginia, and from West Virginia University with a BS degree in Parks and Recreation, Wildlands Administration. His parks career began when he was hired as assistant superintendent of Watoga State Park from 1979 to 1984, and then transferred to become assistant superintendent and later, superintendent of Pipestem Resort State Park from 1984 to 1992. He became deputy chief of parks in Charleston in 1992 and assumed additional responsibilities as chief of operations in 1994. He has served two stints as acting chief in recent years, the first from late 2000 to early 2001, and the second from January 2006 to now.
"I am honored by the confidence shown in me and feel privileged to work within such a great park system with the finest group of state parks employees in the nation," Caplinger said upon accepting the new position.
The West Virginia State Park System includes 35 state parks, recreational facilities on nine state forests and four wildlife management areas, the Greenbrier River Trail, and the North Bend Rail Trail. An economic impact study conducted by the Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research concluded that the West Virginia Parks System has a $105-million economic impact on the state's economy.
For more information about West Virginia State Parks, call 1-800-CALL-WVA or visit www.wvparks.com