that there were a lot of people going to Centennial Park and putting their kayaks in there.” The waterfront enhancements won’t stop with the kayak ramp.“We’ve applied for another grant, in the neighborhood of $200,000, and we will know by July if we will receive that grant or not. What we want to do is put a boardwalk along the edge of Centennial Park along Taylor Creek,” Ritter explains. “That could serve as a place for people to congregate or for people to fish.” While the city focuses on its limited green spaces, Ritter acknowledges complementary county efforts: “The county has much more green space than we do, and they’ve constructed a pump track which is almost like a BMX track. They’ve also made some trails within their sports complex.They’re continually working on green space and things for people to do within the community.” CITY LEADERSHIP: GARY RITTER’S JOURNEY TO CITY ADMINISTRATION Behind Okeechobee’s development strategy is 96 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03
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