Today, Governor Josh Stein participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Paddy Mountain Park in West Jefferson. The event brought together conservation organizations and elected officials to celebrate the opening of the new park. Governor Stein highlighted North Carolina’s natural landscape and expressed gratitude to the project’s partners, including the town of West Jefferson, Ashe County, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and the Blue Ridge Conservatory.
“North Carolina’s parks are integral to our state’s quality of life and economy,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We are all grateful that so many organizations and agencies came together to open Paddy Mountain Park for future generations of North Carolinians to enjoy.”
Pamela B. Cashwell, Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, emphasized collaborative efforts in her remarks: “The opening of Paddy Mountain Park is a perfect representation of what is possible when people work together to preserve their natural wonders. We all have a role to play in conserving our state and keeping our parks and trails in good order.”
Paddy Mountain Park was established through community organization efforts aimed at preserving West Jefferson’s natural beauty and supporting its tourism industry. North Carolina’s national, state, and local parks support over 66,000 jobs and contribute more than $7 billion to the state’s economy. While today’s ceremony marks a new park opening, it also comes after Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to many western North Carolina parks. Seven months later, thanks to efforts by public and private partners, all but two affected parks have reopened.
