A longtime Arkansas State Parks official has been named the next director of the agency.
State Department of Parks and Tourism director Kane Webb said Friday that Grady Spann will become parks director on Jan. 1, following the Dec. 31 retirement of current director Greg Butts.
Spann is currently supervisor of Region 5 in the parks system and has previously been superintendent of the Ozark Folk Center State Park; the Historic Washington State Park and of Parkin Archeological State Park.
Spann has worked for the parks department since 1993.