By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—There’s a new face at Oak Mountain State Park. After 12 years with Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, Kelly Ezell has joined OMSP as the Alabama state park system’s superintendent for the central district.

Ezell began her career at Joe Wheeler State Park where she worked at the marina before serving as the lodge general manager. She was recently promoted to superintendent for the central district.

“I started at an entry level job and worked my way up,” Ezell said.

As superintendent for the central district, Ezell oversees the day-to-day operations at Oak Mountain, Cheaha, Wind Creek, Roland Cooper and Paul M. Grist state parks, but she said she spends the majority of her time at OMSP.

“It’s a beautiful park,” Ezell said. “I’m just amazed every day at how beautiful it is, how expansive it is.”

With more than 10,000 acres of land, OMSP is Alabama’s largest state park. It was also recognized as one of the state’s best parks, receiving the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in October.

“There’s a little paradise here inside such a big urban area,” Ezell said of the park. “It’s just so peaceful and beautiful. Right outside the gates of the park, you’re in the city.”

OMSP offers a wide range of activities, from golf and horseback riding to camping and cable wakeboarding. Numerous events are also held in the park. Ezell said one of her goals as superintendent is to “communicate more with the community” to better inform the public of the variety of activities in the park.

“We haven’t reach out to the community as much as we could,” Ezell said.

Ezell said she is happy to be in Pelham at OMSP and looks forward to continuing partnerships with the city and Shelby County.

“I absolutely love it,” Ezell said of Pelham and OMSP. “I’ve just been pleasantly surprised. This is such a beautiful area.”