Crystal Lloyd named new superintendent of Carolina Beach State Park

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Crystal Lloyd has been named the park superintendent at Carolina Beach State Park.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced the change Monday. Lloyd fills the role after longtime superintendent Chris Helms retired in April. She was previously one of the park superintendents at Falls Lake State Recreation Area.

The park superintendent leads the operations and administration at the park and has a comprehensive set of responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, natural and cultural resource management, interpretation and education, and visitor services.

A native of Creedmoor, N.C., Lloyd has a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation, and tourism management from North Carolina State University. She first joined the division working as a seasonal employee at Falls Lake State Recreation in high school, continuing to work for parks during the summer, including at William B. Umstead State Park. She became a ranger in 2012 at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, then transferred to Falls Lake in 2015, before eventually being promoted to superintendent in 2021. She also co-hosted a podcast called “Ask a Ranger” that tackled the various aspects of the division’s mission as it relates to the work of field staff.

“Crystal has a unique perspective of division operations, moving her way up from seasonal positions to park ranger and to park superintendent,” N.C. State Parks Director Brian Strong said in a press release. “We are excited to have Crystal at Carolina Beach State Park and the years of experience she brings as a superintendent will be invaluable as she stewards the unique natural and recreational resources of the park.”