90th Anniversary of Virginia State Park System

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

90th Anniversary of Virginia State Park System

WHEREAS, on June 15, 1936, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the first state in the nation to open a system of six state parks simultaneously, culminating a decade-long effort to expand public access to outdoor recreation and natural resources; and

WHEREAS, this achievement was made possible through the efforts of the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), established in 1933 under the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which built trails, cabins, shelters, and other lasting infrastructure under the leadership of William E. Carson and in collaboration with Virginia's General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, since then, the park system has grown to 44 parks spanning from Cumberland Gap to the Eastern Shore, protecting more than 80,000 acres of significant natural and cultural landscapes while providing recreational opportunities, environmental education, and public enjoyment; and

WHEREAS, more than 8 million people visit Virginia's state parks each year, supporting local and regional economies and serving as a cornerstone of the Commonwealth's $14.4 billion outdoor recreation industry, strengthening the economic vitality of communities across both rural and urban Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia State Parks celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2026, honoring nine decades of conserving and stewarding the Commonwealth's natural, scenic, cultural, and historic resources; and

WHEREAS, Virginia remains committed to expanding and preserving its state park system to protect places of significance across the Commonwealth, meet the evolving needs of residents, and ensure access to outdoor recreation for all;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize June 15, 2026, as the 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIRGINIA STATE PARK SYSTEM in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.