Profile: Ledford, head of state parks

Lewis Ledford is the Raleigh News & Observer’s “Tar Heel of the Week” today. He’s a native of McDowell County. Here’s a little more:

As a boy growing up in the shadow of Roan Mountain, Lewis Ledford enjoyed walking in the woods, and he has carried that sense of wonder into his post as director of state parks.

Ledford, 54, has worked to expand natural areas for the public and, with a lot of help, has secured the future of two North Carolina landmarks, Chimney Rock and Grandfather Mountain, by adding them to the park system.

North Carolina’s special places need to be saved, Ledford says, to give residents a chance to experience nature in its truest form. And it’s not just about the scenery. Parks are vital to local economies.

“I grew up with the good fortune of knowing Roan Mountain was my backyard,” Ledford says. “As our state continues to grow, providing special places conserved and protected for future generations is our primary goal.”

In the six years since Ledford became head of parks, the system has expanded by 20 percent to 202,000 acres. The more than 60 properties in the system, including 33 parks and 19 natural areas, attract about 13 million visitors a year. He has also committed to a “green” building program for new park construction and advocated higher pay for rangers and maintenance workers.