Parma Mayor Celebrates New Venue for State of the City Address

Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center hosts over 130 attendees for annual speech

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter delivered his annual State of the City address on February 25th at the new Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center, which has already booked 27 events since opening to the public. The mayor highlighted the venue as one of the two notable aspects of this year's address, the other being Parma's bicentennial celebration. The interview-style format with local broadcaster Dick Russ also stood out compared to previous years when DeGeeter would deliver the speech at different community locations around the city.

Why it matters

The choice of venue for the State of the City address reflects Parma's investment in new community amenities and infrastructure, including the Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center which has already generated significant interest. The address also celebrated Parma's 200-year history, highlighting the city's ongoing evolution and community pride.

The details

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter delivered his annual State of the City address on February 25th at the new Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center, which has a seating capacity of 180 people. The venue was one of the two notable aspects of this year's address, with the mayor highlighting that over 130 people attended the event and the facility has already booked 27 events since opening to the public. The other key element was the celebration of Parma's bicentennial. The address featured an interview-style format with local broadcaster Dick Russ, which DeGeeter said was more comfortable and engaging for the audience compared to his previous speeches delivered from behind a podium.

  • Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter delivered his annual State of the City address on February 25, 2026.
  • The Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center recently opened to the public.

The players

Tim DeGeeter

The mayor of Parma, Ohio who delivered the annual State of the City address.

Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center

A new community venue in Parma that hosted the 2026 State of the City address and has already booked 27 events since opening.

Dick Russ

A local award-winning broadcaster who moderated the interview-style format of the 2026 State of the City address.

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What they’re saying

“This State of the City stands out for two reasons. One, it was the location where we had it at -- the new Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center. Clearly, there's a buzz about that place.”

— Tim DeGeeter, Mayor of Parma (cleveland.com)

“I like this format a lot. I appreciate the time that Dick gives to us as the moderator for a sit-down conversation. That's much more comfortable, more exciting -- keeping the audience engaged, as opposed to me standing behind a podium and talking for an hour.”

— Tim DeGeeter, Mayor of Parma (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Parma officials will discuss whether to make the Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center the permanent location for future State of the City addresses, given the venue's capacity and the positive reception it received this year.

The takeaway

Parma's investment in new community amenities like the Ridgewood Golf Club & Event Center, combined with the city's bicentennial celebration, highlight Parma's ongoing evolution and the mayor's efforts to engage residents in unique and innovative ways through the annual State of the City address.