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Park Proud

Meet Darin Brinkmeyer, Maintenance Worker Supervisor at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Darin Brinkmeyer has good reason to take pride in the wayĀ the facilities atĀ Great Smoky Mountains National ParkĀ look.Ā AsĀ aĀ South District MaintenanceĀ WorkerĀ Supervisor, Darin is responsible for all the custodial and grounds maintenanceĀ on the North Carolina side of theĀ 522,427-acreĀ park.Ā This includesĀ looking afterĀ 326 campsites,Ā nineĀ group sites,Ā 41 comfort stations,Ā 14 horse camp sites, 281 picnic sites, three picnic pavilions,Ā aĀ visitor center,Ā theĀ staffĀ housingĀ area, two parking lots, research facilities, and multiple historic structures.Ā 

Darin Brinkmeyer smiles for a picture, splattered with dirt from a day's work

Darin Brinkmeyer at work at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Armed withĀ a fleet of lawn mowers, tractors,Ā andĀ trucks,Ā as well as aĀ warehouse full of cleaning supplies,Ā DarinĀ and his crewĀ (up toĀ 24 people during the busy summer months)Ā workĀ year-roundĀ toĀ ensureĀ that the park’s facilities are maintained.Ā The work Darin and his crewĀ doĀ variesĀ from keeping the restroomĀ facilitiesĀ clean and the grass mowed toĀ checking that the park’s fresh water supply isĀ safeĀ and that pipes areĀ aren’t clogged.

Regardless of theĀ assignment,Ā DarinĀ makesĀ sure his crew, both full time and seasonal,Ā are properly trainedĀ to operateĀ whateverĀ equipmentĀ they might need to useĀ and haveĀ personal protection gear such as gloves,Ā safety goggles,Ā and hard hatsĀ needed toĀ doĀ their jobs.Ā ItĀ is a part of the job he takesĀ very seriously, leading monthly safety talks and regularly updatingĀ the custodial department’s safety standards so he and his crew canĀ do their workĀ in a safe and practical manner.

Darin Brinkmeyer and crew gathered around equipment for ground maintenance

And when DarinĀ has time toĀ spendĀ enjoyingĀ the parkĀ he works hard to maintain, heĀ doesn’t pick out any one placeĀ in particular toĀ visit.Ā Instead, he prefersĀ ā€œany place where thisĀ aren’tĀ a lot of people;Ā places that look old and overgrown with moss, fungi, and water.ā€Ā 


Behind every national park is a team of ordinary people dedicated to maintaining the extraordinary. They maintain habitats, educate visitors, and preserve history. They’re volunteers, rangers, museum curators, engineers, architects, and more. They’re our Park Ambassadors – linking us to these treasured places and all the stories they hold.Ā Send thanks to an NPS employeeĀ or volunteer today.Ā Ā Ā 

The ā€œNational Park Ambassadorsā€Ā video series is produced by the National Park Foundation and its Find Your Park premier partnerĀ L.L.Bean, with additional support fromĀ The Coca-Cola Company.

Woman holding a camera walking in a field
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