My fondest memories in Orlando

As Mayor, when I think about Orlando’s history, the people that have helped shape our city into a vibrant, inclusive place come to mind. From Dr. Philip Phillips, who built one of the world’s largest citrus operations here in the 1920s, to civil rights icon Father Nelson Pinder and many others, countless individuals have played roles in our community’s growth into a dynamic city that has something for everyone.

But as a father and grandfather, when I think about Orlando’s history, family comes to mind. That’s because Orlando is a great place to raise children. Our community is compassionate, welcoming and committed to helping young people learn, grow and thrive. This allows our city’s families to create their own histories right here in The City Beautiful.

I was so proud to raise my two sons in Orlando. Some of my greatest memories as a father are spending time with Trey and Drew taking advantage of all that our community has to offer. We loved spending time outdoors at our city parks where we played catch and tried to fish. One of our favorite destinations was the Orlando Science Center.

These outings and the memories that we created together will forever be a part of our family’s history. What’s special is that we are still writing that history in Orlando.

Now adults, both of my sons live here. Trey is a father to 18-month-old Forrest, extending our roots in this community even more. As Forrest grows, I love how our family is recreating some of the memories made years ago with him. He loves the playgrounds in our neighborhood parks and was thrilled to recently visit the Science Center for the first time. I am so grateful that we get to make history with Forrest in Orlando.