Rish Park Reopens

After two years of renovations, the William J. (Billy Joe) Rish Recreational Park reopened last Thursday to much fanfare, with speakers honoring the "visionary" former legislator for whom the park is named.

In 1967, before his election to the Florida House of Representatives, the late Billy Joe Rish of Port St. Joe conceived the idea of a recreational park to serve the state's disabled residents.

During his eight-year tenure in the House, from 1970-1978, Rish secured yearly legislative appropriations for the park, constructed on a picturesque 98.6-acre Gulf of Mexico-to-St. Joseph Bay tract on Cape San Blas.

 The park, originally known as Sunland Recreational Park, was renamed in Rish's honor during his last session in the House.

Speakers at Thursday's ceremony, held in the park clubhouse, described Rish as decades ahead of his time in advocating for the state's disabled citizens.

Rish lobbied for the park 23 years before the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

"Forty years ago, before it became popular, he realized the importance of a place people could come and have access to Florida at its finest," said Jim Beaugrine, director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Lucious Williams, interim Superintendent of the Marianna Sunland Center detailed the park's six-phase construction, made possible by Rish's advocacy.

"It took a visionary with integrity working with visionaries of integrity to continue to realize the dream—a barrier-free recreational facility for all people with disabilities," Williams said.

The park had been closed for two years due to extensive hurricane damage that wreaked havoc on its boardwalks and facilities.

Former speaker of the House of Representatives Allan Bense and then-aide Will Weatherford helped secure $3 million in funding for renovations.

Upgrades include a complete makeover of the clubhouse kitchen, including all new appliances; new boardwalks constructed out of durable composite board; infrastructure improvements to the park's six cabins and two family cottages, including new fire alarms, water and sewer systems and handicap-accessible showers.

The funding also allowed contractors to construct a new fence around the large swimming pool, apply paint to the cabins and generally spruce up the park.

Beaugrine honored Bense and Weatherford (who could not attend due to legislative commitments) with a Pioneer Award for their efforts in securing the renovation funding.

In accepting the award, Bense said he'd modeled his career as a legislator after Rish, "one of the most respected members of the Florida House ever."

Bense said he was struck by Rish's ability to handle "power with humility," and told Rish's family that he'd put God's gifts to "good use."

Speaking on behalf of the family, Rish's son, Jay Rish, repeated the word "visionary" in describing his father.

Though Rish Park serves as a monument to Rish's foresight and legislative tenacity, Jay Rish shared one of his father's less publicized moments of philanthropy.

When his son asked for money to pay for school field trips, Billy Joe Rish always gave him extra to pay the way of his underprivileged classmates.

"I always remembered that," recalled Jay Rish. "It doesn't matter how much you have, it's the human element and the common equation that counts."

Noting recent private partnerships that provided a beach scooter and mats that allow the wheelchair-bound access to the beach, Beaugrine said he had "high hopes" for the facility's future.

As funding becomes available, future additions may include tennis and basketball courts, a mini-golf range and additional cabins.

"We have a vision that this park will be a national model," said Beaugrine. "It is a jewel."