Press Releases

The North Carolina state parks system now includes 250,000 acres of land and water, according to the Division of Parks and Recreation. Recent acquisitions, including 230 acres for Deep River State Trail and 300 acres for Salmon Creek State Natural Area, brought the system’s acreage up to the new total.

Yesterday, the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion joined a nationwide effort to memorialize and honor American lives lost to COVID-19. 

Dwayne Patterson will return to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as director of the state Division of Parks and Recreation beginning Feb. 1.

The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce $9,172,500 in federal grant funding to 22 historic preservation projects in 18 counties to provide recovery assistance for historic properties (including archaeological sites) damaged by hurricanes Florence and/or Michael that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Kathy Capps, a 20-year employee of city of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, is the new state parks deputy director for operations, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. She succeeds Adrian O’Neal, who retired as a 30-year state employee in late 2019. Capps assumed her new role with the division Dec. 23.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that five individual properties across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The following properties were reviewed by the North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee and were subsequently nominated by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register for consideration for listing in the National Register.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is leveraging resources at state parks, historic sites and other community hubs to expand internet access and bolster remote learning opportunities for students across North Carolina.  The “Park and Learn” project, part of a broader effort called NC Student Connect, aims to provide free high-speed WiFi access to students in rural communities. 

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation launched a new web page to seek public input as staff develop the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail master plan. The master plan is a long-term strategy for the park that details how and where access will be provided and prioritizes projects and investments. Master plan development involves identifying recreation and conservation needs for the trail and collecting stakeholder input on priorities for the park. 

The search for identity and recognition is a common theme among the 2020 North Carolina Book Award recipients who are being announced virtually. Video acceptance statements from recipients are available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0D3Ny2CaPzmpuuwyMiP8trn6iVTzB-9e.   

The State Archives of North Carolina is seeking volunteers who can help transcribe some of the state’s earliest court documents.