PENFIELD, Pa. (EYT) — Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials have announced the appointment of a new manager, James McCorkle, at Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County.
McCorkle, a Butler native, has an associate’s degree in parks and recreation from Butler County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in park and resource management from Slippery Rock University.
He started in the state park system as a park manager trainee for the Cameron County-based Region 1 in 2007, and was named manager at Chapman State Park, Warren County, in 2009. He began his most recent position in 2013 as the assistant park manager at Laurel Hill State Park Complex, Somerset County.
McCorkle will oversee a 968-acre park that features uninhibited charm and character. A rustic, remote park in the heart of Moshannon State Forest, Parker Dam offers picturesque forests, swamp meadows, pine plantations and mixed hardwoods. In addition, visitors are drawn to the park’s scenic lake, quaint campground and forestlands.
McCorkle has been looking forward to this assignment since he first started with the Bureau of State Parks in 2007.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to be working at one of the flagship parks in Park Region 1,” he said.
“My first assignment as a park manager trainee was interim manager at Parker Dam complex while the then-manager was on maternity leave and I’ve been looking forward to coming back ever since.”
McCorkle is replacing Josh Bruce, the new park manager at Reeds Gap State Park in Mifflin County.
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