Mayor Rich Walker
A Message from Mayor Rich Walker
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in our lives, including stepmothers, godmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and more. Having a large family like mine is wonderful, but it puts a lot of responsibility on the mom of our house. My wife, Catherine always finds time to juggle everything, whether it is keeping all of us on schedule, shuttling kids around, or volunteering for school and organizations close to our hearts.
I know she is not alone in these kinds of efforts, so I applaud all of the incredible mothers who help make the world go ‘round. Mother’s Day is an extra sentimental day for me as it marks a day to reminisce about my own mom and all of our moments together. Though it has been almost four years since her passing, I think about her and miss her every day.
May is also my brother Scott’s birthday. I lost him to suicide almost 20 years ago. I always wonder what life would have been like with him still around. We were very close, and I would have loved for our children to grow up together. This underscores the importance of looking out for each other—if you see something, please say something. If you know someone who needs help, try to be there for them and help in whatever way you can.
With the events of the past few months in national headlines, it emphasizes the need to come together and work on our problems as a country, as a community, and as friends. Life is short and it is important to stay positive, be compassionate, and remain united. Great things happen when we work together and put aside our grievances and agendas to do what is best for everyone.
Memorial Day is May 31 and it is a day we honor members of the military who made the ultimate sacrifice—without which we would not be the America we are today. We appreciate not only their sacrifice, but that of their families as well. Join us at Veterans Park on Memorial Day at 9:00 a.m. for a ceremony to pay tribute to them.
As we near the close of the school year, and an unprecedented one at that, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude towards all educators, administrators, students, and families. Your vigilance in following appropriate protocols to protect yourselves has been admirable. We need to sustain these efforts a while longer to ensure we continue moving in the right direction.
As a City Commission, we continue working through our strategic planning process and I am excited about the direction the City is headed. I thank staff for their hard work in ensuring we always have the most accurate information so that we can effectively make the best choices. I appreciate all the residents for their communication and insightful feedback. We share the same vision of creating the best experience for our families in this great City. I look forward to the final stages of our planning in September when we finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
In the meantime, communication is vital to our success and I encourage you to reach out to me at rwalker@cityofparkland.org or via cell phone at (973) 390-1453. You can also follow the City’s social media platforms to ensure you are aware of all of our events and important information. Visit cityofparkland.org and click any social media icon.
Rich Walker
City of Parkland, Florida
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