§ 143B-135.42.  Declaration of policy and purpose.

(a) The State of North Carolina offers unique archaeologic, geologic, biological, scenic, and recreational resources. These resources are part of the heritage of the people of this State. The heritage of a people should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants.

(b) The General Assembly finds it appropriate to establish the State Parks System. This system shall consist of parks which include representative examples of the resources sought to be preserved by this Part, together with such surrounding lands as may be appropriate. Park lands are to be used by the people of this State and their visitors in order to promote understanding of and pride in the natural heritage of this State.

(c) The tax dollars of the people of the State should be expended in an efficient and effective manner for the purpose of assuring that the State Parks System is adequate to accomplish the goals as defined in this Part.

(d) The purpose of this Part is to establish methods and principles for the planned acquisition, development, and operation of State parks. (1987, c. 243, s. 1; 2003-340, s. 1.1; 2015-241, ss. 14.30(e), (l).)