By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Oak Mountain State Park Superintendent Michael Jeffreys is stepping down from his post at OMSP to take the superintendent position at Lake Guntersville State Park and Resort, Jeffreys said on Feb. 12.

Jeffreys, who has been the OMSP superintendent for about two years, said the decision to leave OMSP was “difficult,” but said moving to Lake Guntersville “is a wonderful promotional opportunity for me, and allows my family to move back home.”

“I would like to thank all of the people that have made my time here a wonderful experience,” Jeffreys wrote in an email. “The employees, user groups, volunteers and community leaders that support this park set the example for all parks.”

During his time at OMSP, Jeffreys has overseen the addition of a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier at the park’s lake, has been involved with the Alabama Wildlife Center and has implemented several new programs at the park.

“In my short time here at Oak Mountain, I have been fortunate enough to be directly involved with several projects that are steps in the right direction toward making our park a more desirable place for everyone to visit and enjoy,” Jeffreys wrote in the email. “I will be forever thankful for the experiences shared with many of you that make me a better person and advocate for the parks.

“While I have many challenges ahead of me, I will not soon forget those that made my stay here worthwhile,” he added.

A new OMSP superintendent will be appointed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees the Alabama state park system.