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Lumber River State Park in Robeson and Columbus counties has garnered national attention, becoming an overnight contender in a promotion by Coca-Cola for a $100,000 grant.

The competition in the “America is Your Park” campaign is based solely on online voting, with people being asked to vote – as many times as they like – for a favorite state or national park. Spurred by local tourism officials, Lumber River State Park surged ahead of other North Carolina state parks in early voting, and moved into 10th place (among 3,853 national and state parks) with more than 22,000 votes.

Based on that showing, the state parks system asked all of its supporters to help Lumber River’s quest, primarily using social media including Facebook and Twitter. Votes will be tallied through Aug. 31 at the website: www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks

We hope that consolidating our efforts and choosing Lumber River as the most likely candidate from the state will bring deserved national attention to all of North Carolina’s state parks. We had 14 million visitors to our state parks system last year, and that many supporters can make a difference once they spread the word.

The Lumberton Visitors Bureau launched a similar online campaign earlier this year, collecting enough votes to have the Lumber River named one of the state’s top 10 natural wonders by Land for Tomorrow, a coalition of conservation organizations. An 81-mile stretch of the Lumber is designated a National Wild and Scenic River. The 9,239-acre park features the blackwater river surrounded by floodplain forests, making it a big draw for paddlers and birders.

The $100,000 grant is to be used for new activity equipment, such as bikes and kayaks, or for the restoration and construction of park facilities.

An important part of the mission of the state parks system is to set an example of good stewardship and to educate when possible about sustainable practices.

So, it’s particularly gratifying when news came this week that the new Fort Macon State Park Coastal Education and Visitor Center received a gold rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The facility is the first non-university, state-owned building to earn the distinction.

The 22,547-square-foot center at North Carolina’s second oldest state park was dedicated in October and is devoted to environmental education about the state’s fragile coastal ecology. Funding came from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The gold rating was the result of a team effort, led by Bruce Garner of the state parks design and development program, parks construction manager Glenn Sheppard and retired park superintendent Jody Merritt as well as designer, Hobbs Architects, PA of Pittsboro and general contractor Daniels & Daniels Construction Co. of Goldsboro.

Sustainable features that contributed to the gold rating include a sophisticated rainwater collection system and stormwater runoff controls, low-energy lighting, water-saving fixtures and preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. Also, several tons of concrete construction debris was collected to contribute to an artificial, offshore reef, an idea that came from the park ranger staff.

Another visitor center built to LEED standards that awaits certification was dedicated at Merchants Millpond State Park, and others are under construction at Raven Rock and Cliffs of the Neuse state parks.

The state parks system made a commitment in 2006 to begin designing all large facilities to LEED standards, a holistic approach that puts a priority on energy efficiency, water savings, thoughtful materials and site selection and a healthful indoor environment.

Ideas for sustainable living can be just one more thing that visitors can carry home with them from a trip to a state park.

Interested in learning more about birds and bird-watching in North Carolina?

Then, you’ll want to visit some of our 206,000 acres of state parks and natural areas this year for a rare and wonderful opportunity.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is partnering with Audubon North Carolina to celebrate the “Year of the Birds.”

Throughout the year, birds and bird-watching will be the focus of special education programs and activities in the state parks. You can see wild turkeys in our mountain parks, bald eagles in the Piedmont or even piping plovers along the coast. Not only are birds an important part of the natural experience in our parks, they also give us a good idea of the health of our natural resources and ecosystems.

State parks are regularly involved in annual bird counts, and the parks are among Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, sites for research about the health of bird populations and habitats. Audubon North Carolina, the state parks and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were also among partners that are establishing three distinct birding trails in North Carolina in an effort to combine eco-tourism and natural resource protection. If you’d like to know more about that initiative, visit http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/.

In addition to preparing interpretive programs, state park rangers and natural resource biologists are actively involved in projects to protect and restore habitats for some of our rare and threatened birds, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and colonial nesting shorebirds. Park rangers and biologists also participate in multi-year bird tagging projects.

Learn more about birds at the division’s Web site, www.ncparks.gov, or the Web site for Audubon North Carolina, http://nc.audubon.org/.

In a few weeks time, citizens and visitors to North Carolina will be hiking the trails of Grandfather Mountain State Park, the 2,456-acre “backcountry” and high peaks of the signature Blue Ridge landmark. In a ceremony Tuesday in the historic old House Chamber, attended by a large number of legislators, conservation organizations, and others that included a 4th grade class, Gov. Perdue signed the legislation authorizing the state park.   We expect to close on the property later this spring.

These were necessary formal steps after our agreement late last year for the state parks system to purchase the land from the heirs of Hugh Morton. The Morton family will continue to run the famous tourist attraction that will be adjacent to our newest state park.

Conservation of such a beloved landmark reflects the commitment of many people, including the citizens of North Carolina, who care about the land and support our state parks system and the conservation trust funds, which financed the purchase.  In this case, the cause of conservation drew a large cast of contributors, not the least of whom were the 46 legislators who sponsored the legislation and the members of both houses who supported the idea unanimously. Appreciation must also go to Crae Morton and the entire Morton family, who made a considered decision that it is important to protect the mountain in perpetuity.

The Conservation Fund’s Mike Leonard helped arrange the agreement and deserves much credit for the success, as does The Nature Conservancy who holds conservation easements on the mountain. 

The state parks system is currently refining the details of interim management of the acreage and its 12-mile system of trails and backpack camping sites. Again, the Morton family is to be thanked for its help in this effort. The new state park will soon have a presence on our Web site (www.ncparks.gov) where visitors can find up-to-date information about all our state parks that are being enjoyed by more than 13 million visitors annually.

The state parks system is incredibly proud to be the steward for this signature part of North Carolina as well as more than 205,000 acres elsewhere across the state where vital natural resources that are Naturally Wonderful are available for all to enjoy.