08/27/2026
"May nature always be a safe place for everyone to experience joy."
A new mural unveiled today at celebrates an important chapter in North Carolina’s state parks history.
Painted by artist Bess Taylor with the help of many members of the community, the mural honors Jones Lake as the first unit in the North Carolina state parks system to welcome Black visitors. Drawing inspiration from archival photographs of Black families and visitors enjoying the lake, the mural also features former superintendent Dewitt Powell, whose 31-year career at Jones Lake began in 1953.
Jones Lake opened on July 1, 1939, as North Carolina’s first state-operated outdoor recreation area for Black Americans. During the Jim Crow era, it provided a rare opportunity for Black North Carolinians to enjoy swimming, boating, picnicking and the outdoors. An estimated 22,000 people visited during its first season alone.
Powell became superintendent in the early 1960s and played a lasting role in making Jones Lake a welcoming community gathering place. He mentored generations of young people, welcomed families and local organizations, and became such an important part of the community that Jones Lake earned the nickname “Mr. Dewitt’s Lake.”
Today, this mural helps tell that story by honoring the people who found joy and community at Jones Lake and the individuals who helped make the park what it is today.
📸 DPR Photos
