Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
At the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, we are truly passionate about our mission to provide outdoor recreation opportunities and conserve and interpret natural, cultural, and historic resources for the use, enjoyment, and welfare of the people. The people are YOU, Alaskans and visitors to this great state. We manage Alaska State Parks and treat our land as if it were our own backyard because it is.
Our Division manages an impressive network of 157 parks, recreation areas, marine parks, and historic sites that span 3.6 million acres. This extensive system includes 76 campgrounds, 900 miles of maintained hiking trails, 52 picnic shelters, 90 public-use cabins, 24 developed boat launches, and 41 marine park units.
When fully staffed in the summer, we have up to 122 employees, encompassing six regions and 8 sections. Our regions are the Chugach, Northern, Mat-Su / Copper Valley, Kenai / Prince William Sound, Kodiak / Wood Tik-Chik and Southeast. Our sections are primarily based in the Director’s Office in downtown Anchorage and include The Office of Boating Safety, The Office of History & Archaeology, Design & Construction, Interpretation & Education, Law Enforcement, Operations, Grants & Administration and Community Engagement.
Leadership
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Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation Sections
Field Operations play a crucial role in preserving and promoting Alaska's natural beauty and recreational opportunities. As community recreation hubs, state parks offer a wide array of activities, such as picnicking, hiking, camping, walking, bicycling, skiing, snowmobiling, ATV riding, fishing, hunting, and environmental education. Field Operations plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of Alaska.
The Design & Construction Section manages state park capital projects from inception to closeout. Led by licensed engineers and interpretation professionals, it performs planning, cost estimating, preliminary design, design, permitting, and construction activities to develop park facilities.
The Interpretation and Education Unit of Alaska State Parks works to support the department’s mission to interpret the state’s natural, cultural, and historic resources. This small unit employs certified interpreters and graphic artists to create a purposeful approach to educational materials, signage, and graphics that are relevant for today’s park users.
The Office of History and Archaeology is Alaska's primary office for knowledge and expertise in historic preservation, and it is dedicated to preserving and interpreting Alaska's past. The office works with local governments, the public, and educational and not-for-profit organizations to identify, preserve, protect, and interpret the state's cultural, historical, and archaeological resources, ensuring that our heritage is passed on to future generations.
We are a small but mighty team in the Director’s Office, supporting staff throughout the state in various ways. We manage multiple contracts as well as our Parks Website, Social Media (find us on FB or IG!), Reservation System, Merchandise Program (Parks Store), Annual Decals, Artist-In-Residence (AIR) Program, Families to Parks, outer Spatial App, and GIS Data Hub.
Our Park Rangers are law Enforcement Officers who are trained at the Alaska Trooper Academy and undergo 6-8 weeks of field training before becoming commissioned officers. They are the front-line personnel for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. They work to deter crime, promote public safety, and protect public resources.
Grants is based in Anchorage and manages all of our grant programs, doling out close to 5 million a year in Outdoor Recreation grants throughout the state. The Administrative section develops and manages the operating and capital budgets. Our administrative team is primarily in Anchorage, but we also have one or two staff members in each region.
Our mission is to promote safe and enjoyable boating in Alaska. We provide safety Education around water sports for all ages across the state and manage the following programs: Kids Don’t Float, Life Jacket Loaner Board, Alaska Water Wise, and Pledge to Live.
Our Land and People
Potter Section House
18620 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA
Morgan's Landing Campground
Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, AK, USA
Ft Abercrombie SHP
1400 Abercrombie Dr, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA
Finger Lake SRS
7278 E Bogard Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA
400 Willoughby Ave, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
550 W 7th Ave suite 1380, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA