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 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 parkās 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 parkās fresh water supply isĀ safeĀ and that pipes areĀ arenāt 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 departmentās safety standards so he and his crew canĀ do their workĀ in a safe and practical manner.

And when DarinĀ has time toĀ spendĀ enjoyingĀ the parkĀ he works hard to maintain, heĀ doesnāt pick out any one placeĀ in particular toĀ visit.Ā Instead, he prefersĀ āany place where thisĀ arenātĀ a lot of people;Ā places that look old and overgrown with moss, fungi, and water.āĀ
Behind every national park is a team of ordinary people dedicated to maintaining the extraordinary. They maintain habitats, educate visitors, and preserve history. Theyāre volunteers, rangers, museum curators, engineers, architects, and more. Theyāre our Park Ambassadors ā 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 āNational Park AmbassadorsāĀ 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.