This park was named after S. Friel Nuckolls he was a Co founder of Nebraska City.
Nuckolls was born in Grayson County, Virginia, were he completed preparatory studies. He moved to Linden, Missouri, in 1846. He engaged in mercantile pursuits from 1847 to 1853. After that he moved to the Territory of Nebraska in 1854 and founded Nebraska City. He held several local offices in Nebraska City. In 1855 he established the Platte Valley Bank. Nuckolls served in the Nebraska Territorial Legislature in 1859. He moved to the Territory of Colorado in 1860 and engaged in banking and mining. In 1864 he moved to New York City. He moved to the Territory of Dakota in 1867 and settled in Cheyenne. In Cheyeyenne he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Upon the organization of the Territory of Wyoming he was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-first Congress and served from December 6, 1869, to March 3, 1871. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress. He resumed his mercantile pursuits. Nuckolls served as a member of the second legislative council of Wyoming in 1871 and served as presiding officer. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1872 and 1876. He moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in July 1872 and engaged in milling. In Salt Lake City he died on February 14, 1879. He was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery.