- May 4, 2024
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The Volusia County Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 5, to support changing the name of North Peninsula State Park to honor a "true champion of conservation," as described in a letter to the Florida Park Service.
The request to rename the park to the "Reid B. Hughes State Park" was brought forward by former County Councilwoman Pat Northey and Clay Henderson, the executive director of Stetson University's Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. Hughes, a local businessman and longtime supporter of environmental efforts, died on July 3. Henderson wrote a letter to Eric Draper, the director of the Florida Park Service, detailing the contributions Hughes made over his lifetime to the three state parks near Ormond Beach: Tomoka State Park, Bulow Creek State Park, and North Peninsula State Park, referred in the letter collectively as the "Tomoka Geo-Park."
The letter details that Hughes became involved in conservation while working with Walter Boardman in the late 1970s as they worked to limit the Halifax Plantation development. Over the years, their advocacy led to the preservation of almost 6,000 acres for what would become the three state parks, 500 acres of which was obtained in 1984 when Hughes, Boardman and Leonard Wirsig sought to protect land in the north peninsula.
Hughes also served two terms on the governing board of the St. Johns River Water Management District, served on the Volusia Forever Advisory Committee, and was a member of the boards of directors of The Nature Conservancy and Audubon of Florida. He also campaigned for the protection of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, according to Henderson's letter.
"For this extraordinary record of conservation, it is altogether appropriate that the Florida State Parks dedicate some portion of the Tomoka Geo-Park to the memory of Reid Hughes," Henderson wrote. "Both the Tomoka and Bulow names are historic and should not be touched. On the other hand the name 'North Peninsula' is merely a handy reference to a local area without any specific historic significance."
Northey told the council on Oct. 5 that they are in a time crunch with the state, but that the resolution of support from the county was "critical."
"It really sends a simple but important message that we want to honor this guy," she said.
County Councilman Ben Johnson said all those who knew Hughes knew he did a lot for the community.
“He always stepped up to the plate," Johnson said. "He put his money where his mouth was, but more than that, work where it was needed to help this county.”
Johnson made the motion to approve the resolution. It was seconded by County Councilwoman Heather Post, who represents District 4 where the state park is located.
