in the 1960s after the consolidation of the Division of Beaches and Parks, the Division of Recreation, and the Division of Small Craft Harbors.

As of the department's 2022-23 statistical report, the system included 280 classified units and major unclassified properties totaling 1,650,336.16 acre. The department describes the system as including over 340 mi of coastline, 970 mi of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, 5200 mi of trails, 3,195 historic buildings, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites.