Peyton Taylor, a former regional manager in the Maryland Park Service, has been named director of the Thousand Islands State Park Region, according to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

“A lifelong professional in park and natural resource management, Taylor brings over thirty years of knowledge and experience, both in the day-to-day operations of state parks, and in executive leadership roles in the Maryland Park Service, to her new position,” a statement from the state parks office said.

Stretching from Lake Ontario north along the St. Lawrence River through St. Lawrence County to Lake Champlain, the Thousand Islands region is one of the system’s largest, including 30 parks, one historic site and six boat launches, as well as thousands of campsites.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have an accomplished, dedicated steward like Peyton join our team,” state parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “The vast range of skills and abilities she developed while spearheading successful initiatives and programs in the Maryland Park System will be invaluable as the New York State Park system continues its renaissance.”

Taylor began her career in state parks as a seasonal employee in the Maryland Park Service, rising in the ranks to various supervisory roles, including assistant park manager for Gunpowder Falls, Maryland’s largest state park, and eventually working as one of three regional managers in the state.

Additionally, she created Maryland Park Service’s Conservation Jobs Corps during her tenure and served as its executive director for six years.

Taylor holds a master of liberal arts, focusing on American history, from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor of science in natural resource management from the University of Maryland, College Park.

She will begin in December, replacing Kevin Kieff, who recently retired after working as Thousand Islands regional director for 15 years.