The first members of the Alabama State Parks Ambassador Program have been selected, a class of 75 individuals who will highlight all of the activities and programs available at the 21 State Parks.

The application process launched in March 2025 and drew applications from nearly 800 people.

“It’s been humbling and inspiring to see how many people truly love our state parks and want to help promote them,” Alabama State Parks Director Matthew Capps said. “We appreciate everyone who applied for the program, which will spread the word that Alabama State Parks are the perfect places to stay, play and explore all year long.”

“From hiking to zip-lining to horseback riding to hooking a trophy bass, our State Parks have something for everyone,” he added, “and our Ambassadors will be showcasing that in new and exciting ways.”

Each Ambassador will document their experiences at their home park by providing photos and videos each month and sharing them on various social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. That content will also be shared regularly on Alabama State Parks’ official social media platforms and newsletters.

Parks Ambassador Chad Hoover shared, “I’ve spent my lifetime exploring the outdoors in search of adventure, and I can honestly say Alabama State Parks are among the most beautiful, diverse and accessible in the country. It’s a true honor to serve as one of their Ambassadors.”

“We are fortunate to have so many people who genuinely love our State Parks,” Capps said, “and they want nothing more than to inspire others to enjoy our incredible State Parks system.”

A full list of the 2025-26 class of Alabama State Parks Ambassadors can be found online at https://www.alapark.com/ambassadors.

About the Alabama State Parks Division

The Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and maintains 21 state parks encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water in Alabama. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian Mountains and provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants and golfing areas. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners, like local communities, to fund the majority of their operations. Learn more at www.alapark.com.