This was the twenty-second Fourth of July Parade put on by the Rotary Club of Park Cites – it just seems to get better every year. Thousands of people lined the streets to enjoy the Parade and continued the day at the Festival in the Park. There were patriotic speeches, family friendly fun and lots of activities for the kids.
Our theme: “America the Beautiful”
Our Grand Marshal: Jim Whorton, who has ridden his high-wheeler bike in the 4th of July parade starting in 1975 through 2024. If you have been to the Parade, you will have seen him. He also has been an active member of the community, coaching sports teams and being a leader in Scouting on a national level.
Our Beneficiary: The North Texas Food Bank, one of RCPC’s collaborative partners. Through the generosity of our sponsors and individual contributors, $53,868.00 was raised for the NTFB, which translated into 484,812 meals.
And – it was FUN! The parade featured floats from neighborhood businesses, decorated new and vintage cars and fire trucks, representatives of the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park, student floats from Highland Park H.S. and SMU, several horses, and ;ots of candy! There was bicycle judging and the children on bicycles then joined the Parade.
Almost every member of RCPC had a part in preparing for and putting on the Parade, all under the leadership of member Co-Chairs Jill Jordan and Alan Winn.