The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced that Kevin Patton, the park manager of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, is the recipient of the 2023 Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the Year Award. Patton has been with the Florida Park Service for 39 years and is recognized for his stewardship of state lands and commitment to land management and conservation.
“Conserving Florida for future generations requires the dedication of talented leaders who inspire others to care about our natural resources and work to protect it,” said Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher. “Kevin Patton is an accomplished professional who sets the standard for what can be achieved in land management.”
Patton's career with the Florida Park Service includes work at several state parks, focusing on preserving and restoring natural resources. His fire management efforts are notable, involving 292 prescribed burns and wildfire responses over more than 35,700 acres.
As a manager at Ochlockonee River State Park and Bald Point State Park, Patton revitalized prescribed fire programs in areas with complex fire needs. At Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, he initiated a restoration project for upland pine communities. Recently, at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, he oversaw improvements to wetlands by installing low-water crossings across 60 acres.
Beyond land management, Patton has mentored future resource managers. Under his leadership, six employees have become burn bosses, while others have advanced into key management roles.
The Resource Manager of the Year award honors James A. Stevenson’s contributions to ecosystem management during his time with DEP’s Florida Park Service and Division of State Lands. The award recognizes exceptional leadership in protecting Florida’s natural resources among land managers from DEP, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Florida Forest Service, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.