Mayor Rich Walker
A Message from Mayor Rich Walker
As Parkland residents, we all have a greater sense of the importance of community. We support each other, inspire each other, and we encourage each other to make positive differences in our communities, every day.
For those of you who attended State of the City last month, you have heard us discuss the ways that our community is thriving and thriving together. There is not one thing we have accomplished as a City that has been about just one person. Our progress is achieved through collaboration, through listening, being proactive, and by being good friends and neighbors.
As we near the summertime, take a moment to slow down a bit and reflect on the positive. Loxahatchee Road is open and, while construction continues with upcoming roundabout work, we will still be able to use the road and get where we need to go – we are getting there and, with patience and compromise, our infrastructure will continue to improve and be something we can all enjoy together as a community.
This summer, with school out of session, there will be more roadwork being done in other areas, as contractors take advantage of the decrease in traffic. In addition to that, be mindful of the change in traffic patterns and of the possible increased presence of children who may be out and about throughout the summer. Also, be mindful of the safety of contractors who will be working on various improvement projects throughout our community.
And I still want to stress the importance of sharing our public spaces and our roads responsibly. There will be more electric bikes, and electric scooters in the mix as well. As a reminder, if you operate an e-bike near a park in Parkland, do not ride on the fields or near crowds. The City of Parkland City Commission just passed an ordinance that prohibits riding e-bikes through park fields and crowds, and B.S.O.-Parkland District can issue citations to those who fail to comply.
With all of this, the message I hope you come away with is one of working together, playing together, leading with kindness, and thinking of how others are affected by our decisions and actions.
We are all thriving together, but it starts with our decision to be responsible residents of our beautiful City. Let’s enjoy the summer by respecting our communities and respecting each other.
If you would like to share your thoughts or if you have questions or comments you would like to share, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached via e-mail at rwalker@cityofparkland.org or via cell phone at (973) 390-1453. I am frequently available monthly at Parkland businesses and love to talk with residents there. I encourage you to visit the City’s website cityofparkland.org and click on the social media icon that you prefer, to ensure that you stay informed on events and helpful information.
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