Lakewood's annual Fourth of July celebration will take place on Saturday, July 4.   The Fourth of July parade is scheduled to step off on at 10:00 a.m. on Lake Avenue at Kenneth Drive and conclude at Lakewood Park.   Lakewood resident Paula Reed will serve as the Grand Marshall for the City’s Fourth of July parade.

Paula Reed is a long-time Lakewood resident and community activist. She has been a Realtor with Prudential Lucien Realty since 1983. She specialized in sales of Lakewood houses from 1983 until 2005 when she retired from sales and became Training Director of the company. Paula was a member of the Board of Directors for the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors (CABOR) from 2004-2007. She has served as a member of Grievance & Professional Standards Committees of CABOR since 2001. Paula also serves as a Member of Board of Directors of Ohio Association of Realtors.

In addition to her profession experience, Paula has been actively volunteering with many Lakewood community organizations for years. Paula was a member and served in many leadership positions in the Preschool PTA and PTA for 20 years. Paula has also served as a member of the school levy and bond issue committees over the years. She was President of the Lakewood Historical Society from 2003 to 2006 and has served as the Chair of the annual Sale on the Grounds since 2005. Paula was member of the Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board from 1999 to 2005. She was named Sun News Lakewood CitiSun of the Year in 2004. Paula is a founding member of the Live Well Lakewood Organization and board member of LakewoodAlive and chair of the Downtown Lakewood Program.

“We are pleased to honor Paula Reed for all she has given to the Lakewood community” said Mayor FitzGerald. “We are proud to have her serve as Grand Marshall of the Fourth of July Parade.”

Joining in the parade will be musical favorites, the Lakewood High School Ranger Marching Band, St. Edward High School Band, the Lochaber Pipe Band and Red Hackle Pipe Band.

After the parade, festivities will continue in Lakewood Park with games, food, activities and information provided by several of Lakewood’s community organizations.  At 7:00 p.m., the Lakewood Project, Lakewood High School’s Youth Rock Orchestra, will perform at the Bandstand at Lakewood Park.  The Fourth of July festivities will conclude with Lakewood annual fireworks extravaganza at approximately 9:45-10:00 p.m.