Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: July 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: Venerria L. Thomas, Director
FROM: Kyle Kent, Manager
CONTACT: Kyle Kent, Manager
PHONE: (407) 836-6202
DIVISION: Parks and Recreation Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s recommendation to change the name of the park located at 1140 5th Street from “Taft Ballfield Park” to “Albert Hodges Park” in memory of local patriarch and community builder Albert Carroll Hodges. District 3. (Parks and Recreation Division)
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PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE: The proposed name change to “Albert Hodges Park” was chosen by the Taft community to honor Albert Carroll Hodges. Albert Carroll’s father, Albert Sydney Hodges, originally came to Taft in 1913. He purchased hundreds of acres east of Conway and ran vegetable farms. His children and grandchildren worked the farm and the Hodge’s produce stand on South Orange Avenue. Albert Sydney’s son, Albert Carroll, was well known by residents in Taft and went on to own many tracts in the Taft area, including the Taft Ball Field. Long time residents remember “Mr. Hodges” fondly, as he was always working to improve the community. Albert Carroll Hodges went on to sell many parcels of land to residents who still reside in Taft. Albert Carroll Hodges passed away in September 1992, which meets the current County policy criteria for this posthumous recognition.
On September 11, 2025, after discussion and review, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended naming the former Taft Ballfield Park to Albert Hodges Park.
BUDGET: N/A