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WHEREAS, Richard “Dick” Wilford faithfully served the City of Pittsburgh from 1985 - 2020, providing the Pittsburgh community with clean, vibrant and welcoming park facilities; and,
WHEREAS, Dick Wilford began his life long career with the City of Pittsburgh in 1985 as a Florist at Phipps Conservatory for the Department of Parks and Recreation; and,
WHEREAS, in 1993 Dick chose to remain a City employee and became a Laborer in the Department of Public Works assigned to a Streets Maintenance Division-Parks Maintenance; and,
WHEREAS, he began servicing Frick Park after 1993 until being promoted to the position of Foreman, responsible for overseeing the Eastern Division of parks including Frick Park; and,
WHEREAS, Dick has worked to keep park goers happy and free from contention through his many acts of service, one such act being the construction of a pool for dogs in Frick Park, dubbed “Hot Dog Dam” by Mr. Wilford and fellow co-workers in 2000; and,
WHEREAS, he worked to upgrade our city’s parks through comprehensive trail and sign improvements, including the addition of more than 95 new signs, effectively improving both the wayfinding and educational experiences of park goers in 2009; and,
WHEREAS, Dick partnered with the Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group (PTAG) to ensure that conflict among park goers was mitigated through the proper implementation of safety upgrades, and education to increase park etiquette; and,
WHEREAS, he strived to ensure that both the Parks Conservancy’s and the Frick Environmental Center’s Programs were educational, fun, worthwhile, and impactful experiences for our city’s youth that served to further their bond with nature; and,
WHEREAS, Dick faithfully and masterfully carried out his duties as Foreman until earning yet another promotion in May 2017 to the position of Parks Maintenance Manager of the Eastern Division; and,
WHEREAS, Dick has obtained the following achievements - Certified Public Applicator-Category 23, Completion of the 2 Year Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School, Certificate of Horticulture, Completion of the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), and Certified Playground Safety Inspector(CPSI), which he has successfully completed on 6 occasions since 2003; and,
WHEREAS, Dick Wilford is a life-long lover of all things outdoors. As an avid hunter, camper, and horticulturist Mr. Wilford exudes the true spirit of a dedicated nature lover; and,
WHEREAS, Dick Wilford is a proud, happy, and exuberant community member residing in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood with his loving family.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby celebrate the decades of dedication and service that have been given to our community through the hard working, diligent, and caring role that Richard “Dick” Wilford has taken upon himself; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Friday, June 5, 2020 to be “Dick Wilford Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.