Click the links below to view information about general management plans and plans for specific parks.

About GMPs
Cliffs of the Neuse GMP
Eno River GMP
Gorges GMP
Jones Lake GMP
Lumber River GMP

All Sections

About General Management Plans (GMPs)

Legislative Mandate:

The 1987 State Parks Act (G.S.114-44.7 through 114-44.14) requires each park to have an individual general management plan. The general management plans are required to:

...include a statement of purpose for the park based upon its relationship to the System Plan and its classification. An analysis of the major resources and facilities on hand to achieve those purposes shall be completed along with a statement of management direction. The general management plan shall be revised as necessary to comply with the System Plan and to achieve the purpose of the [State Parks Act].

Contents of a General Management Plan:

• Park history and a description of park resources and facilities
• Statement of park purpose, including an identification of the park’s significant resources
• Summary of interpretive themes
• An analysis of demand and trends
• Summary of laws and policy guiding park management
• An analysis of natural and cultural resource management, including external and internal threats and research needs
• Physical plant inventory, needs and priorities
• Capital improvement needs and priorities
• Operations and management issues and recommendations
• Land acquisition needs

Status: General management plans (GMPs) have been completed for 27 state park units. Four others (LAWA, CABE, FOFI & RARO) have final drafts that are pending Secretarial approval. Nine others are underway and in various stages of completion.

Process: Development and subsequent revisions of GMPs involves multi-disciplinary input and collaboration from a proup representing operations, natural resources, land acquisition, planning, environmental education, design and construction staff. Prior to the GMP meeting, this staff visits the park and meets with park staff to insure an understanding of various park issues and needs. Visitor and park advisory committee (PAC) concerns are addressed, and input from park and recreation surveys and use data are considered. Consensus developed at the GMP meeting goes forward as the park plan.

Draft GMPs receive internal staff review and comment before they are presented to the PACs. Following PAC review and comment, the final draft is sent to the Secretary for DENR approval. Once approved, plans are posted on the Division’s web site.

Value: GMPs function to:

• State the purpose of each park as it relates to the mission of the state parks system
• Assess where we are and where we want to go
• Focus energy and resources so we work toward the same goals
• Explain how and why the park was established and the way it’s operated
• Produce fundamental decisions and recommendations that guide the park’s operations and development
• Explain park plans to legislators, park supporters and the public
• Set priorities
• Offer continuity as people come and go
• Allow individual park needs to be incorporated into the systemwide plan
• Allow a dynamic process for plans to be amended to react to changes

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park - 2005 General Management Plan (pdf)

Click the links below to view the sections of the general management plan for this park.

• Introduction
• Description of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
• Park Purposes
• Summary of Interpretive Themes
• Park and Recreation Demand and Trends
• Summary of Laws Guiding Park Management
• Natural and Cultural Resource Management
• Physical Plant Inventory
• Park Operations
• Land Acquisition Needs

Eno River State Park - 2005 General Management Plan (pdf)

Click the links below to view the sections of the general management plan for this park.

• Introduction
• Description of Eno River State Park
• Park Purposes
• Summary of Interpretive Themes
• Park and Recreation Demand and Trends
• Summary of Laws Guiding Park Management
• Natural and Cultural Resource Management
• Physical Plant Inventory
• Park Operations
• Land Acquisition Needs

Gorges State Park - 2005 General Management Plan (pdf)

Click the links below to view the sections of the general management plan for this park.

• Table of Contents
• Description of Gorges State Park
• Park Purposes
• Summary of Interpretive Themes
• Park and Recreation Demand and Trends
• Summary of Laws Guiding Park Management
• Natural and Cultural Resource Management
• Physical Plant Inventory
• Park Operations
• Land Acquisition Needs

Jones Lake State Park - 2005 General Management Plan (pdf)

Click the links below to view the sections of the general management plan for this park.

• Table of Contents and Introduction
• Description and History of Jones Lake State Park
• Park Purposes
• Summary of Interpretive Themes
• Park and Recreation Demand and Trends
• Summary of Laws Guiding Park Management
• Natural and Cultural Resource Management
• Physical Plant Inventory
• Park Operations
• Land Acquisition Needs

Lumber River State Park - 2005 General Management Plan (pdf)

Click the links below to view the sections of the general management plan for this park.

• Introduction
• Description of Lumber River State Park
• Park Purposes
• Summary of Interpretive Themes
• Park and Recreation Demand and Trends
• Summary of Laws Guiding Park Management
• Natural and Cultural Resource Management
• Physical Plant Inventory
• Park Operations
• Land Acquisition Needs

N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation • 1615 MSC • Raleigh N.C. 27699-1615 (919) 733-4181