West Virginia State Park Superintendents Association

02/28/2025

***Bill Awareness***

For those who work or may have friends/family (a favorite Park Ranger even 🥹) who work under the Department of Commerce, be sure to take a look at this one.

Quick brief: States effective July 1, 2025 all new hire or transfer (promotion) employees will no longer be protected by civil service status. Essentially creating a stalemate of career development within our State—including your Parks 💔.

We struggle to keep our young folks in this State. One of the many perks to being a proud West Virginia State employee was civil service protections….why is this protection being stripped? Your kids, grandkids, church youth, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and so forth who dream to “work outside” or be a Park Ranger will more than likely opt to accept protected employmentnt outside of Wild and Wonderful 😢.

We fear the future of recruiting talent to protect our parks under an ‘at-will’ agency.

Take a look. Feel free to follow the previous post- reel by Delegate Kayla Young -on how to draft and send a formal statement to the legislature.

Bill below—

Bill Status - Bill Text

02/25/2025

A follow-up congratulations is in order for our 2025 SNRPO Class Graduates!

Thank you to the seasoned SNRPOs, NRPOs, Twin Falls staff, and everyone who joined in to make the academy a success this year.

From physical fitness, fi****ms training, defense tactics, chapter 20 code, officer fortitude, and all elements that create a LE Park Ranger who keeps their park safe, and also comes home safe at the end of each day.

Campaign hats off to you all!

02/23/2025

Congrats to our latest Special Natural Resources Police Officers on their graduation from the 2025 SNRPO academy!

We’ll post some graduation photos this week!

Congratulations to the West Virginia State Parks Rangers for completing the 5 week academy.

02/20/2025

Public servants for our public always ♥️

02/19/2025

02/19/2025

02/19/2025

While the figurative (and literal) road to repair and normalcy may be long, West Virginians know it takes a village…and a village Panther got Monday and Tuesday!

While a lot of progress happens within the bounds of our own agencies, nothing shows true Appalachian spirit than when multiple agencies work together to provide for our residents.

Huge shout out to our DOH heroes— from the Princeton shop —who rolled in ready to make the road passable bright and early Monday morning.

We’re grateful to all organizations that have mobilized in McDowell to help restore some semblance of order to the lives of many.

We’ll keep you posted on progress as we get it!

02/19/2025

Kanawha State Forest and Beech Fork State Park saw some storm damage this past weekend as well.

Superintendents at these parks will need to assess, plan, repair, and ensure utmost safe conditions before reopening these areas to the public again.

Kanawha State Forest had tree fell on a historic CCC (Civilan Conservation Corps) built picnic shelter. This will require tree removal (most always done by park staff), assessing possible structural damage, consulting with relative historical society for CCC, and then moving forward with repairs.

Beech Fork SP had several facilities under water, including several sites at Moxley Branch campground. Waiting for the water to fully recede, assessing water damage, electric pedestals that may need replaced for safety, ensuring the ADA accessible fishing pier is clear, and deep cleaning affected facilities.

Superintendents are the ‘fixers’ of our Park system. Our brains are wired to begin problem-solving before the problem is even finished! Our goal is to provide safe, hospitable outdoor opportunities for our residents and visitors to play and create memories.