Staff Spotlight, Kevin McGregor
Park Ranger, Kevin McGregor
Ybor City Museum State Park
Kevin McGregor was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. His parent chose Florida as their new home when he was six years old, seeking better jobs and more sunshine. He has always had a love of nature and credits two books with helping spark that interest: How to Stay Alive in the Woods and Oak: The Frame of Civilization.
Kevin says that what he likes most about the outdoors is the “amazing tapestry of so many organisms working together and the story that the simplest of things can help tell.”
Kevin decided to follow his passion for nature by becoming a park ranger for the Florida Park Service. He wanted to share his passion for preserving and maintaining our natural areas. Kevin was particularly drawn to Ybor City Museum State Park because of its fascinating history. Ybor’s cigar industry had an incredible influence on the area and Kevin loves telling visitors how the city came to be. One of his favorite things is seeing the look of wonder in visitor’s eyes as he brings history to life during a tour. That feeling keeps him coming back every day and encourages him to find new and exciting ways to tell the city’s story.
For now, you can most often catch Kevin leading a tour in the museum or casita. As time goes on, Kevin would like to move into the park service specialist role or some other role involving park operations and resource management. He would also like to start some programs teaching plant identification and the various roles they play in the Florida environment.
Interpreting is truly Kevin’s passion. He approaches interpreting history like an adventure, uncovering all the hidden parts that may be lying just below the surface. He likes making connections between the past and present, showing where we’ve been and how we got to where we are now. Kevin is proud to be a part of a team that is helping preserve Ybor’s amazing history and culture.