courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
Happy Fourth of July
The parade Begins 10AM (Rain or Shine) at South Monroe Street and Godwin Avenue
The theme of our 106th annual celebration is:
“America the Beautiful – Celebrating 100 Years of our National Parks”
This years theme honors the creation of the National Park Service through the Organic Act of 1916 signed by President Woodrow Wilson and originated by President Theodore Roosevelt. Each year, the Fourth of July Celebration Committee chooses a theme that celebrates a certain aspect of American history or culture. The theme also serves as the basis for the float competition held during the parade.
Although national parks have existed since 1872, the creation of the National Park Service established a unified organization to oversee the natural and historic treasures of the United States and ensure their continued preservation and enjoyment for future generations. According to the National Park Service, there are more than 400 parks, monuments, recreation areas and other federal sites under its management. Other notable facts include:
The first national park was Yellowstone National Park founded March 1, 1872
292 million people enjoyed the nation’s national parks in 2014
The National Park System covers more 84 million acres across US States and territories
President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not what we have that will make us a great nation; it is the way in which we use it”