Bryan Cox returns to be a park superintendent at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Chatham County, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Cox succeeds Fred Watkins, who retired last year. He joins Brock Martin, the lead park superintendent.
Park superintendents manage operations and administration at a park and have wide-ranging responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services. At state recreation areas, one superintendent focuses on managing the extensive staff, and that is the role that Cox now fills.
Cox began his career with North Carolina State Parks as a general utility worker at Medoc Mountain State Park. He then served as a park ranger at both Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas. A decade ago, he transitioned to a law enforcement career with the city of Sanford, first as a patrol officer then a police officer. He returns to Jordan Lake, bringing his advanced law enforcement certificate and many years of experience as an instructor for a variety of public safety classes. A graduate of Appalachian State University, Cox holds a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation and criminal justice.
“Bryan’s combination of extensive law enforcement experience and years of service within North Carolina State Parks makes him an ideal fit for Jordan Lake,” said State Parks Director Brian Strong. “He knows this park and its community well, and his leadership is a tremendous resource for both staff and visitors.”
About Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, located just west of Raleigh, is one of the most visited recreation destinations in North Carolina. The 14,000-acre reservoir offers swimming beaches, more than 1,000 campsites, hiking trails, boating access, and prime opportunities for fishing and birdwatching. The lake is also home to one of the largest populations of nesting bald eagles in the eastern United States.
About the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
The Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 264,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.