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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 21, 2025
Contact: Kim Wells, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-217-1077, kim.wells@dcr.virginia.gov

Alyssa Menard is named park manager at Holliday Lake State Park

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Alyssa Menard, Holliday Lake State Park Manager)

APPOMATTOX, Va. – Holliday Lake State Park is excited to name Alyssa Menard as the park manager,

as she comes to the role with much experience, especially from other state parks. She graduated in 2014 with a master’s in parks and resource management. Menard, originally from New York, was looking for conservation work and joined the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps in 2015.

This service would allow her to gain valuable experience in the field as well as take on various roles at different parks during her career. Menard served at Leesylvania State Park in resource management, then spent some time in interpretation while serving at Belle Isle State Park. Menard also worked as an education support specialist at Belle Isle, and in 2017, served one last time with the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps at Pocahontas State Park.

“One thing I try to instill in people is that parks, including careers, are for everyone,” said Menard. “I'm not very outdoorsy and was not particularly handy growing up, but I've learned a lot along the way and continue to learn new things daily. I am grateful to have been able to take on a lot of different roles over the years that helped continue my career at Virginia State Parks.”

In 2018, she was hired as the chief ranger of law enforcement at Twin Lakes and in 2020 she transferred to Belle Isle with the same title. Menard was promoted to assistant park manager at Twin Lakes in 2021, and two years later, she transferred to Westmoreland as the assistant park manager. And now, today you can find her enjoying her new role as park manager at Holliday Lake State Park.

“A lot of people refer to the park as a hidden gem, and it really is,” said Menard. “I haven't been here long, but there's no wrong season to visit. Driving into the park thorough the state forest in the fall feels like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie and the snow this winter was beautiful. There has been plenty of Mountain Laurel on the trails that represent the beauty of spring, and I am excited to kickoff summer here at the park soon.”

The park manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the park and needs staff and volunteers to work alongside them in order to operate at maximum efficiency. There are other new staff members at the park who Menard looks forward to working with.

“I look forward to rebuilding,” explained Menard. “Most of the full-time staff have retired or moved on over the past year or so, and I'm starting from scratch. Our office manager just started, and a chief ranger and park ranger will join us soon. I look forward to the fresh perspective of folks who are mostly new to Virginia State Parks, and the changes they will inevitably bring.”

Menard has a strong understanding of what makes a park successful, especially within the community, and she looks forward to sharing new programs with the public this year.

For more information about Holliday Lake State Park visit the park’s website.

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Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.  

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