Volunteer Spotlight, Jim Newbound
Jim Newbound
River Rise Preserve State Park
Jim Newbound was born in Highland, Michigan, and married his wife Hilda in 1952. He worked as a lineman for Detroit Edison power company and today can fix just about anything. Jim is an antique tractor collector and enthusiast and owns unique and rare John Deere machines. He also is a master at operating tractors, an invaluable skill for trail maintenance and tree removal in the dense forests of River Rise.
Jim began volunteering with the Florida Park Service in 2005 and has been working at River Rise Preserve State Park and O’Leno State Park for all of his 14 years of experience. He is extremely experienced and knowledgeable about the “pulse” of the parks. Jim helped blaze 15 miles of equestrian trails among hundreds of other projects, and takes pride in the fact that when he first began volunteering his unofficial title was “ranger assistant.”
Both Jim and Hilda have been extremely helpful with preparing for park events, including the 5k Race the Tortoise and O’Leno Ole Chili Cook Off and Springs Fest. Jim and Hilda are both extremely dedicated to their work and are described as “just about the nicest folks you will ever meet.” They are first class volunteers and great friends of Florida State Parks, and we hope that you get to meet Jim the next time you visit River Rise Preserve State Park.