WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE
the Clarion Resort Fontainbleau Hotel as our
host hotel for the upcoming youth camp and
tournament season
OCEAN BOWL SKATE PARK TO
GET A FACE LIFT
The Ocean Bowl Skate Park’s iconic vertical
ramp will receive a face lift this Spring as
we resurface the ramp and complete some
needed repairs on the existing structure. The
vert ramp is one of our most challenging elements
to skate as it stands 12 feet high with
10 ½ foot transitions and over a foot of vertical. We use the
32 feet of at bottom for teaching our beginner skaters to
learn how to pump. We are excited to update our iconic vert
ramp and keep it as an exciting attraction for all skaters to
enjoy for years to come. Renovations will begin late February
and all upgrades will be nished for the summer season.
IN THE
Spotlight
RON RICKARDS RETIRES
AFTER 39 YEARS
Ron Rickards recently retired after
an illustrious 39-year career with the
Recreation and Parks Department,
and is currently the longest tenured
employee in the Department’s history.
Ron took personal pride in the upkeep
of Northside Park and was an integral
part of the Recreation & Parks team
that contributed to Northside Park
being awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate
of Excellence the past four years. He was exceptionally
proud of being the one responsible for designing the display
layout for the Winterfest of Lights each year. He loved cutting
grass, almost to a fault, and was an expert laying out and lining
ballelds.
Born and raised in Berlin, Ron was an exceptional athlete,
and his experience with sports and leadership made him
a perfect t to take on a Comprehensive Employment and
Training Act (CETA) position with the Recreation and Parks
Department. A few years after working as a CETA employee,
Ronnie was hired full-time by the Town in 1979. At that time,
there were only six employees in the Department and staff had
to perform many different tasks in both park maintenance and
recreation programming.
As the Department grew, positions became more specialized,
and Ronnie gravitated to the Parks side where he became
an expert in eld preparation and the self-proclaimed
care-taker of Northside Park.
Parks Superintendent Gary Collier noted, “What was most
striking to me about Ron was his ability to remember eld dimensions.
He could lay out softball, soccer and lacrosse elds
at Northside Park with no diagrams, using only dimensions
stored in his head.”
Over time, Ronnie had the opportunity to work in all of the
various divisions and zones of the Parks team, and over his
career was promoted from a Parks Worker to a Crew Leader,
and most recently, to a Parks Supervisor.
“Ronnie’s passion for Northside Park will be missed,” shared
Recreation and Parks Director, Susan Petito, “He served as a
‘coach’ on and off of the job, expecting the best from his work
crews, and leading our employee softball team to many victories
over the years. We all wish him well, and, know, that as
a resident of Ocean City, he’ll be keeping an eye on us as he
continues to enjoy the beauty of the many parks he cared for
over his long and rewarding career.”
JARRETT WIDGEON
PROMOTED TO PARKS
SUPERVISOR
Congratulations to Jarrett Widgeon
on his recent promotion to Parks
Supervisor. Jarrett is a 2009 graduate
of Stephen Decatur High School.
Born and raised in Worcester County,
he has been very involved within his
community. He has served as a volunteer
re ghter at Showell VFD for
the past 13 years, the last two in the
capacity of Fire Chief. Jarrett enjoys
shing, hunting, and camping with
his family and friends. He recently married his wife Stacey in
November 2018.
Prior to coming to the Ocean City Recreation & Parks
Department, Jarrett worked for Delaware Elevator. He
began his tenure with the Parks Division as a part-time
seasonal Parks Worker in 2014 and was assigned to work at
Northside Park. His experience in construction and the ability
to operate heavy equipment enabled him to be hired full
time as part of the landscaping crew in October of 2014. The
ability to learn quickly and obtain Maryland certications as
a Public Agency Pesticide Applicator, Professional Fertilizer
Applicator, and Roadside Tree Care Expert led to him being
promoted to Crew Leader in 2017. Jarrett’s leadership skills
and team-player mentality will serve him well in his new
position.
phone 410.250.0125 6 w www.oceancitymd.gov
/www.oceancitymd.gov