Mayor Rich Walker
A Message from Mayor Rich Walker
Happy Independence Day! July 4th is commonly associated with patriotic festivities donned out in brilliant colors of red, white, and blue. Americans across our great nation gather together in celebration at parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, and my own personal favorite—Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY. Every year, I grill up a batch of hotdogs for my own family as we watch the event on T.V. together.
However, we cannot lose sight of the ultimate reason why our great country recognizes this monumental date in history. To quote Ronald Reagan, 40th President, “We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something—for liberty and freedom and fairness—and these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to.”
The United States of America offers unlimited opportunities afforded by our mantra “Land of the Free… Home of the Brave.” The potential is unlimited but requires effort and determination to be successful. Thankfully, our forefathers forged a path to ensure that every single American has an opportunity. It is imperative that we continue this mindset and treat everyone fairly and just. If one of us succeeds, we all succeed. I hope everyone is safe this 4th of July holiday.
July is also National Parks and Recreation Month. Parks are a vital part of any local community. Green Space is important, which adds lush greenery that beautifies our community. Physical Activity is critical to a healthy life. Parks afford our residents the opportunity to play a sport, walk on our trails, or simply enjoying the fresh air outside. Parks create many economic benefits, which include increased property values and valuable patron traffic to our local businesses.
According to the National Recreation and Park Association, a single acre of trees absorbs as much carbon dioxide produced by driving a car 11,000 miles. Our community safety has a positive impact on our parks. Social impacts are another reason to have parks, as our parks offer a place for people to gather and interact with one other, inevitably building a closer sense of community.
We have a few upcoming events this summer. July 3, we have another Eats ‘N’ Beats at The Parkland Amphitheatre from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, July 10, we have our Fishing Derby scheduled at Pine Trails Park from 8:00 am-10:00 am. Movies in the Park, featuring “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” will also take place on July 23 at 8:15 pm.
Our next Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 7 at 7:00 pm. We will then take a break until August 18. On Wednesday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, we will have our resident budget workshop.
As always, communication is vital to our success. I encourage you to reach out to me at rwalker@cityofparkland.org or via cell phone at 973-390-1453. I will also continue to make myself available monthly at a local community business. You can also follow the City’s social media platforms to ensure that you are aware of our events and important information. Visit cityofparkland.org and click any social media icon.
Mayor Rich Walker
City of Parkland, Florida
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