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Sunrise honors parade winners, declares Parks & Recreation and Pass Up Plastics months and recognizes long‑time staff service
Summary
The commission presented awards to July Fourth parade winners, proclaimed July Parks & Recreation Month and Pass Up Plastics Month, recognized youth athletes and honored a retiring bus driver. Kevin Picard, Director of Leisure Services, led multiple presentations.
The Sunrise City Commission used the July 8 meeting to recognize community participation in the July Fourth parade and to present a string of proclamations and awards.
Kevin Picard, director of leisure services, announced winners in parade categories that included “Most Patriotic” (Veterans Advisory Board), “Community Spirit” (SDA Pathfinders), “Most Unique” (Sustainability Advisory Board) and the Mayor’s Award (Piper High School band, invited to march in Washington, D.C.). Picard said the parade featured about 60 floats this year and highlighted staff and volunteer coordination. The commission and staff noted the band’s performance drew particular praise from attendees.
The commission proclaimed July 2025 as Parks & Recreation Month in Sunrise, recognizing the city’s leisure‑services divisions — including aquatics, athletics, camps, cultural arts and senior programs — and noting parks’ benefits to public health, economic development and resilience. The mayor read a proclamation extolling the department’s staff and the “build together, play together” national theme.
The commission also proclaimed July as “Pass Up Plastics Month” to support Plastic Free July activities. The sustainability advisory board accepted that recognition; city staff encouraged residents and businesses to reduce single‑use plastics and noted local partnerships and upcoming events.
Separately the commission presented the July youth‑athlete awards to Aidan Wisdom (Kids Total Fit Zone) and Angelica Fortich (Sunrise Karate), citing academic achievement and community involvement. Kevin Picard and program instructors praised the recipients’ growth and leadership.
Leisure services staff honored Herbert “Herbie” North Walton, a bus driver in the city’s transportation division, on his retirement after 19 years of service to Sunrise and earlier service with other fire and rescue organizations. The mayor and staff thanked him for his years of care and compassion for seniors and riders.
