Loran Schulte Retires Following 21 Years of Service to Kannapolis > City of Kannapolis | City of Kannapolis

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Loran Schulte is retiring after 21 years of dedicated service to the Parks and Recreation Department and Baker’s Creek Park.

“Loran has been a valuable asset to the department and the City. His knowledge and abilities will be greatly missed. We all wish him the best of luck as he enjoys his retirement filled with fun, relaxation, and travel,” said Gary Mills, Parks and Recreation Director.

After growing up on a farm in Iowa, he moved to Kannapolis, and once he enjoyed his first mild winter here, he decided that Kannapolis was a place he wanted to live long-term. He said, “Working at a park is different than working on a farm, but I loved it because I could still be outside all the time.”

During his 21 years, his favorite thing about working at Baker’s Creek Park has been seeing and meeting families who come to enjoy the park. He said, “Neighborhoods aren’t the same as they used to be, so coming to the park allows families the freedom to ride bikes and play freely, and that’s really rewarding.”

A typical day on the job involved taking care of the property and the facilities at Bakers Creek (playground, putt-putt course, tennis courts, etc.) and making sure the park was clean and safe to enjoy. He would be assigned different responsibilities based on weather and rental schedules, which meant no two days were alike.

After being asked what he will remember most about working for the City of Kannapolis, he said, “Through the 21 years that I’ve worked for the City of Kannapolis and with Baker’s Creek Park, I’ve had the privilege to work with really great people in all departments, and there are a lot of folks that I will miss.”

Loran is most excited to travel during his retirement. He said, “I will get to travel for more than two weeks without having to worry about what I’m missing while not being at the park.”