Sunshine Matters

Today the Florida tourism industry mourns the passing of the father of our modern Florida State Park Service. Ney C. Landrum was responsible for the exponential growth of the service through the acquisition of many parks that now attract more than 20 million visitors a year to the state. During his 20-year tenure as Director of the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Recreation and Parks, Ney exhibited great leadership by expanding our small state park system into one of the largest in the country.

His vision directed the purchase of thousands of acres of springs, forests and beaches in the state that today host endangered species and attract nature enthusiasts from all around the globe.  Also under Ney’s watch, natural resource management jumped light years ahead through his use of prescribed fire as a tool of land managers.

In addition, Ney was a major influence on the national state park movement, serving for several years as director of the National Association of State Park Directors and receiving two consecutive National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Awards.

Even while retired, Ney continued to serve as the Director Emeritus of the Florida State Park System, mentored park service employees and authored two books entitled The State Park Movement in America and A Legacy of Green: The Making of Florida’s Magnificent State Park System.

For his many contributions to the tourism industry, Ney was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame in 2011.

While we are saddened by his death, we are proud to honor his accomplishments and thank Ney most especially for his foresight to acquire, manage and protect vast areas of Florida’s wilderness that will continue to provide incredible recreational and educational opportunities for our visitors well into the future.