Adrian D. "Doug" Barnes (1903-1986) received the local level Pugsley Medal in 1954 for outstanding work in developing the Dade County Park system. He was born in 1903 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College, subsequently renamed the University of Massachusetts, with a BS degree in landscape architecture. In 1925, Barnes joined the Miami Parks Department and was responsible for the introduction of the sable palms and royal poinciana trees along Bayfront Park and many of the streets of Miami.
In 1929, Barnes became the first employee of the Dade County Parks Department when it was a division of the Road and Bridge Department, because at that time parks were conceptualized as being “roadside improvements.” His office was a desk in the county courthouse in a cubbyhole room he shared with the engineer.
He was married in that year, and his wife recalls that Barnes spent every Saturday afternoon and Sunday with his work, reflecting the devotion to his calling which he really never left, nor did it leave him. He carried his devotion to his parks with him wherever he went. His absences from his desk were few and were not lengthy.
His first projects were tree plantings along Old Dixie Highway and Coral Way. The Dixie Highway trees grew alongside the U.S. 1 highway, forming a green corridor that was one of the most pleasant drives in the entire county. Old timers remembered the huge banyans and their cooling shade.
He was a true gentleman of impeccable integrity. Each morning when he looked in the mirror he would say to himself "To thine own self be true" and this was his mantra. It was a maxim he taught which I used to guide my professional life. He was known by everybody as "Mister Barnes", such was the respect with which he was regarded by everyone with whom he came into contact.