West Virginia State Parks officials recently announced that the parks system and staff received national recognition during the 63rd annual National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) conference, hosted earlier this month at Canaan Valley Resort State Park.
During the conference, leaders from state parks systems across the country honored Scott Durham with the NASPD History Award for his 53 years of service and innovative contributions to West Virginia’s state parks.
“We are incredibly proud of Scott and the well-deserved recognition he received for a lifetime of service to West Virginia State Parks,” said acting West Virginia State Parks chief Dillard Price. “Throughout his remarkable full-time career and post-retirement work on special assignments, Scott has been a driving force behind several initiatives that have fundamentally impacted the history and operations of West Virginia State Parks.”
Durham created the Ranger First Program, an innovative park management concept that enhanced visitor safety, resource protection and public education and established a professional standard that has been adopted by other park systems across the nation. He also helped implement the online reservation system for lodge parks and led the development of an oral history project to capture and preserve the institutional memory and stories that have shaped West Virginia’s state parks.
Conference Brings National Attention to West Virginia Parks
Durham’s award came as West Virginia had the unique honor of hosting the annual NASPD conference, which brings together directors and leadership from across the country to share best practices, discuss trends and recognize achievements in conservation, innovation and public service. Hosting the 2025 conference allowed West Virginia to showcase its state parks and forests and their natural beauty to a national audience while celebrating the accomplishments of its staff.
“The West Virginia team exceeded everyone’s expectations not just with the incredible natural resources, but with their hospitality and shared commitment to build on the strong foundations of their park system. The great work of West Virginia State Parks ensures generations will come to enjoy the almost heaven experience,” said Paul McCormack, president of NASPD.
Each year, NASPD accepts applications for several awards and a committee made up of state park directors reviews those applications and selects the winners. To learn more about the organization, visit stateparks.org.
