Jones Lake State Park had a 4 percent decrease and Singletary Lake State Park had a 14 percent decrease in visits during 2014 compared to 2013, according to figures released Wednesday by North Carolina State Parks.
There were 119,636 visits to Jones Lake during 2014 compared to 124,633 in 2013. Included in that figure are 4,240 visits in December, which was a 3 percent increase over December 2013. Jones Lakes State Park is located off N.C. 242 near Elizabethtown.
There were 15,278 visits to Singletary Lake during 2014 compared to 17,843 in 2013. Included in that figure are 510 visits in December compared to 580 in December 2013. Singletary Lake State Park is located off N.C. 53 in Kelly.
Statewide, parks and recreation areas experienced record attendance last year with 15.6 million visits, which was a 10 percent increase over 2013 according to figures provided by the N.C. Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
Among 39 state parks and state recreation areas, 27 reported increases in attendance last year. William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County reported the highest attendance at 1.29 million visits, and was among six state park units logging more than 1 million visitors. The others were Fort Macon and Jockey’s Ridge state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas.
The new Carvers Creek State Park in Cumberland County logged its first full year of operation, reporting 74,220 visitors.
“Record visitation in 2014 dramatically reflects the value North Carolinians place on our state parks, especially for the communities where they’re located and their economies,” said Mike Murphy, state parks director. “The state parks system will hold its centennial in 2016, and planning is underway for special events and opportunities to celebrate a system that has become an institution for recreation, conservation and connection with nature in our state.”
Over the past 25 years, attendance at state parks has nearly doubled. In 1989, eight million people visited state parks and state recreation areas.
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