Laura S. Walker State Park

Laura S. Walker State Park
Laura S. Walker State Park
Laura Walker State Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
	Laura S. Walker State Park
	Location in Georgia Location in United States
Location	Ware County, Georgia
Nearest city	Waycross, Georgia
Coordinates	31°08′31″N 82°13′01″W / 31.142°N 82.217°W
Area	626 acres (253 ha)
Established	1937
Governing body	Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Laura S. Walker State Park is a 626-acre (253 ha) state park in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located near Hoboken and the Okefenokee Swamp, the park is named after Laura S. Walker, a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader, and naturalist (she is most famous as the latter). The park's location near the Okefenokee makes it home to many exotic plant and animal species, including alligators, great blue herons, and pitcher plants. The park includes a 120-acre (49 ha) lake and a championship 18-hole golf course with a pro shop.

History

In the 1930s an effort was made to recognize Waycross, Georgia, conservationist Laura S. Walker for her work promoting forestry and other civic activities. At the urging of Georgia's senators, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation to establish the Laura S. Walker National Park in her honor.^[1] She was the only living person for whom a state or national park was named. In 1937, the federal government purchased distressed farmland for the park under a federal land utilization program authorized by the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act.^[2]^[3] Work on the park was undertaken by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1941, the national park was deeded over to Georgia, becoming the state's 13th state park.

Facilities

42 Tent/Trailer/RV Campsites
6 Cottages
7 Picnic Shelters
4 Group Shelters
1 Group Camp
1 Pioneer Campground
Swimming Beach
Kayak Rentals
Bicycle Rentals

Gallery

Tent and trailer campsites
Picnic shelter
Group shelter
Swimming area
Kayak and paddle board rentals

Annual events

Okefenokee 10K Race (March)

References

^ "Laura S. Walker: The Woman Behind the Park". Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
^ "Laura S. Walker State Park Established 1941" (PDF). Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
^ Thomas J. Straka; S. Knight Cox; Heather T. Irwin. "Current Use of Federal Land Utilization Projects Granted to State and Local Agencies" (PDF). Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Clemson University. Retrieved April 13, 2018.