HURRICANE, W.Va. โ The West Virginia State Parks Foundation has launched an official online merchandise store, offering supporters a new way to celebrate West Virginiaโs parks while directly supporting projects across the state park system.
The online shop features T-shirts and sweatshirts showcasing the distinctive โLove WV State Parksโ logo, highlighting the stateโs parks, forests, and rail trails. Proceeds from merchandise sales will support park awareness, advocacy, maintenance, and improvement initiatives throughout West Virginia.
โWeโre thrilled to offer people from across the country a convenient way to wear their love for West Virginia State Parks,โ said Brad Reed, executive director of the foundation. โNot only will our merchandise showcase your West Virginia pride, but every purchase also helps fund awareness, advocacy, maintenance, and improvement projects throughout our park system.โ
The foundation works in partnership with West Virginia State Parks to help deliver memorable outdoor experiences for an estimated 10 million visitors each year. Its mission focuses on encouraging residents and tourists alike to explore nature, slow down, and create lasting family memories, while supporting high-quality park facilities across the state.
An independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the foundation provides leadership in communication, funding, and advocacy in collaboration with individual park foundations across the state.
In addition to purchasing merchandise, supporters are encouraged to get involved through donations, volunteering, or other opportunities to support the โLove WV State Parksโ initiative.
The online merchandise store is available at LoveWVStateParks.com.
History of West Virginia State Parks
West Virginiaโs state park system traces its roots to the Great Depression, when federal New Deal programs helped lay the groundwork for public outdoor recreation across the state.
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration built lodges, cabins, trails, and roads in some of West Virginiaโs most scenic landscapes, establishing parks such as Watoga, Blackwater Falls, and Pipestem.
These early efforts reflected a growing national belief that access to nature was both a public good and an economic asset, providing jobs during hard times while preserving forests, rivers, and mountain vistas for future generations.
In the decades that followed, the system expanded and modernized, evolving into one of the nationโs most comprehensive state park networks. Today, the state park system encompasses more than 30 parks, forests, and rail trails, offering everything from historic lodges and championship golf courses to remote backcountry experiences.
Guided by a conservation-first philosophy, the system has balanced tourism growth with environmental stewardship, helping shape West Virginiaโs identity as an outdoor destination while preserving the natural and cultural heritage that defines the Mountain State.
Why West Virginia's state parks matter now more than ever
CHARLESTON, W.Va. โ As the 100th anniversary of West Virginia's state park system approaches, officials say the network of 48 parks and forests has become an essential pillar of tourism, conservation, and community development.
Few assets owned by West Virginians generate as much pride or economic return as its state parks and forests, according to Brad Reed, Sr., executive director of theย West Virginia State Parks Foundation.
โWest Virginia state parks might be the best idea this state ever had,โ Reed said. โThey protect the places that define us while creating opportunities that strengthen every community.โ READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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