The head of Colorado State Parks was nominated by the Bush administration Friday to take over the number three position in the U.S. Interior Department.
Lyle Laverty, 64, of Arvada has been the director of the state Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation since 2001.
Laverty must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before becoming the Interior Department’s assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
“Lyle is an outstanding leader with a lifetime of experience in managing parks and forests and overseeing the stewardship of wildlife,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne in a statement.
Before becoming state parks director, Laverty spent 35 years with the U.S. Forest Service, including stints as forest supervisor, regional forester and associate deputy chief for the agency.
As associate deputy chief, Laverty implemented the agency’s National Fire Plan.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Laverty said of the nomination to the Interior Department. “Hopefully, I can bring some background that I’ve had with the agencies and even here with the state parks.”
State Parks in February came under scrutiny when Great Outdoors Colorado, the trust that distributes lottery funds, refused to give the agency $8.5 million because of past accounting problems and questions about plans to build luxury cabins and other high-end amenities at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
Harris Sherman, the director of the Department of Natural Resources, asked for the state agency to be audited. That audit is expected to be finished by July, according to the auditor’s office.
Laverty and officials with Great Outdoors Colorado said accounting problems have been fixed and State Parks received its annual funding two weeks ago.
“Lyle is well-suited for the job he is going into,” said John Swartout, executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado. “That’s his background, and I think he’ll do a good job there.”
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
