Nebraskaland Magazine
LINCOLN – Roger Kuhn, assistant director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, was honored with a special award on Sept. 4 at the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) annual meeting in Omaha.
Kuhn, of Ashland, was recognized for his special, extended efforts and contributions that advance the general goals of the NASPD.
Included in Kuhn’s 30-plus-year career with Game and Parks are more than 20 years served as parks administrator. Under his leadership, the parks division progressed into a statewide system of 80 recreation areas annually attracting more than 9 million visitors.
During Nebraska’s 2014 legislative session, Kuhn played a key role in the passage of legislation increasing funding for the parks system that resulted in more than $30 million for deferred maintenance and capital development projects.
Early in his career, Kuhn had worked on development and construction of Eugene T. Mahoney State Park and was the superintendent when the park opened in 1992. Through his leadership, the park became the most visited and profitable park in Nebraska’s park system.
NASPD is a non-profit organization of state park directors whose mission is to promote and advance the state park systems of America for their own significance, as well as for their important contributions to the nation’s environment, heritage, health and economy.
America’s state parks experience more than 727 million visits a year with an economic impact of $23 billion on less than $2 billion in operational spending.
