New Active Living & Parks director finds purpose in the outdoors
Published on July 22, 2025
He was 14 when a black bear tore through his tent during a backpacking trip. Eleven years later, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Active Living and Parks Director Byron Haigler has turned personal adversity into a lifelong commitment to public service and outdoor education.
Each July, Cabarrus County celebrates Park and Recreation Month by showcasing its world-class parks and programs. This year, the celebration was extra special for Haigler, who replaced longtime department leader Londa Strong. Strong retired in May 2025 after more than four decades with the County.
Haigler first joined the Active Living and Parks department in 2009 as a part-time park ranger. Along the way, he served in nearly every capacity before becoming assistant director in 2017. “This department is more than parks, centers, programs and events—it’s the people, passion and commitment we share to make Cabarrus County a better place,” he says. “I’m honored and humbled to continue this work in a new capacity.”
He credits his former boss with building the foundation for a department dedicated to innovation and community connection.
“I’ve had the privilege of learning under a director who led this department with distinction for more than 40 years,” he says. “I see an opportunity to honor her legacy while bringing fresh energy and vision to meet the evolving needs of residents.”
Haigler takes over the department at a time of growth. The County recently opened two new facilities in Mt. Pleasant and Afton Ridge that combine active living centers with libraries.
Now the department manages five parks and three active living centers that offer 3,200-plus programs and serve more than two million people annually.
Simply put: it’s a big job.
An early passion for nature leads to a dangerous encounter
Haigler’s love of the outdoors began early, through Boy Scouts.
As a teenager, he trained for more than a year to take part in a 99-mile backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. On the fifth day of that journey, he had a life-changing experience.
Exhausted from a long day of hiking to the summit of Mt. Philips, the group ate then packed up their food (protection from bears, of course). They turned in shortly after 5 p.m.
Asleep in his one-man tent, face down, Haigler awoke to a feeling of intense pressure.
“It was knocking the breath out of me,” he says. “When I moved, something grabbed ahold of me, and it was the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt.”
He remembers the sound of distinct ‘POPS’ throughout the ordeal.
“The main thing that stuck with me was that sound,” he says. “That popping noise of the bear’s claws coming through the tent, through the sleeping bag and into me.
“It never really leaves you.”
Haigler went in and out of consciousness as the bear repeatedly crushed and clawed him. He never actually saw the animal, only the outline of its nose pressing against the tent, pulsing the fabric with its breath.
The attack left his tent in tatters and his body with deep puncture wounds and lacerations.
He was treated for his injuries, then trekked on. On the phone call informing his parents of the attack, Haigler told them “we’re going to finish what we started.”
That up close and personal encounter led him to a job at Grandfather Mountain. He sought the role to confront his fear of bears and ultimately used the story to teach visitors about responsible behavior around wild animals.
That job led to the realization that the outdoors could be his classroom.
“It’s where I found my purpose,” he says.
Hear Byron tell the tale by visiting youtube.com/cabarruscounty.
A perspective-shifting diagnosis
Haigler joined Cabarrus County as a part-time park ranger and worked his way into a full-time role. Just months after a promotion to park manager, he began experiencing sharp, persistent chest pains. Doctors initially thought it was heartburn.
Eventually, a CT scan revealed a tumor near his diaphragm. Haigler was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 25.
“I’ve fallen through a barn, ruptured my spleen, been in serious accidents,” he says. “But cancer shaped me in a new way. It taught me to never take opportunities for granted.”
Haigler credits the County’s employee health benefits, wellness services and leave-share program with helping manage his treatment and recovery.
“That program kept me employed,” he says. “The support from leadership and staff helped me get through some of the most difficult days of my life.”
Turning adversity into impact
After cancer treatment, he began searching for healthier ways to manage stress and insomnia—lingering side effects from chemotherapy. He eventually discovered running.
“I didn’t enjoy it, but it helped me sleep,” he says. He soon went from struggling on short runs to completing a marathon.
While he still doesn’t necessarily love the activity, “it’s become a vital outlet,” he says. “It pushes me out of my comfort zone and helps me appreciate life’s moments, like sunrises and sunsets.”
The need to channel his restless energy also led to woodworking. The hobby, introduced to him by his father-in-law, became a creative outlet that helped him stay productive.
“Working with wood gave me something to focus on when I couldn’t sleep,” he says. “It helped me stay positive and productive during the toughest times.”
He now operates a side gig with Haigler Handcrafted. He recently had the honor of creating a County-shaped wood plaque starred with the locations of all parks and active living centers—a gift for Londa Strong’s retirement.
And he’s introducing the next generation to the joy of the outdoors. With other fathers, he launched and leads his son’s growing Cub Scout Pack. “We went from two kids to 16 kids, just like that.”
Looking to the future, Haigler says his top priority is implementing the department’s new strategic plan, which includes expanding access to active living opportunities, improving park amenities and supporting the needs of a growing county.
“What truly brings me joy is what we do to impact the community,” he says.
Explore Cabarrus parks and programs
Celebrate Park and Recreation Month by exploring one of Cabarrus County’s five parks or three active living centers:
County Parks
- Frank Liske Park (4001 Stough Road, Concord) – Paddle boating, mini-golf, pickleball, fishing and more
- Vietnam Veterans Park (760 Orphanage Road, Concord) – Basketball courts, shuffleboard courts, exercise stations, dog run and more
- Virginia Foil Park (1111 N. Washington Street, Mt. Pleasant) – Fitness trail, playground, walking trail, ball fields
- Camp T.N. Spencer Park (3155 Foxford Road, Concord) – Public pool, cabins, tent sites, fishing ponds
- Rob Wallace Park (12900 Bethel School Road, Midland) – Fishing, mountain biking, picnic shelters and nature play areas
Active Living Centers (ages 18 and older)
- Concord Active Living Center (331 Corban Avenue SE, Concord)
- Mount Pleasant Library and Active Living Center (1111 N. Washington Street, Mt. Pleasant)
- Afton Library and Active Living Center (6095 Glen Afton Blvd., Concord)
To view the department’s July–August Session Guide, visit cabarruscounty.us/alp. For more information, visit Active Living and Parks Cabarrus County.