M. Scott Avis, the superintendent at Lake Norman State Park, has been named the new south district superintendent of North Carolina State Parks, according to the Division of Parks and Recreation. Avis succeeds Jay Greenwood, who retired in March after 27 years with the division.
The operations section of the division is divided into four districts. Each district superintendent oversees the operations and administration of several parks, taking overall charge of visitor protection and safety, budget planning, facilities maintenance, and management of interpretation programs, natural resources, and personnel.
Avis graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor's degree in natural resources. He started his career working with a consulting forestry firm for nine years, before joining the division as a ranger at Falls Lake State Recreation Area in 2013. In 2019, Avis and Falls Lake staff won the State Parks Prescribed Burner of the Year award from the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council, after a banner year of prescribed burning at the park. He was promoted to park superintendent at Lake Norman the following year.
"Scott began his tenure at Lake Norman shortly before the pandemic hit and has navigated those challenges while also overseeing the completion of the park's multimillion-dollar campground bond project," said State Parks Director Brian Strong. "His skills in leadership and community building will be an asset for our southern parks, especially with the opportunities associated with the new Equine State Trail in this district."
The south district includes 11 park units: Carvers Creek, Crowders Mountain, Jones Lake, Lake Norman, Lake Waccamaw, Lumber River, Morrow Mountain, Raven Rock, and Singletary Lake state parks; Jordan Lake State Recreation Area; and Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. Combined, these parks encompass nearly 70,000 acres of parkland and have an average of 5 million visitors annually.
Avis officially began his role on Sept. 6, after serving as the acting district superintendent since August. Superintendent Colleen Bowers at Carvers Creek State Park also filled in for the position for several months following Greenwood's retirement. In the interim, Ranger Nathan Greene is serving as acting superintendent at Lake Norman.
About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 250,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina's state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the North Carolina 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, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources 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 North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the North Carolina 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 North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, visit ncdcr.gov.