Florida city of Hollywood dedicates park trail to Parkland shooting hero Chris Hixon

Sofia Saric, Miami Herald on Feb 11, 2026

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A few days before the eighth anniversary of the Parkland mass shooting, Hollywood dedicated a trail to hero Chris Hixon at Stan Goldman Memorial Park.

“He really exemplified someone who put service above himself, as shown very bravely on that day eight years ago,” Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said during the Wednesday morning ceremony.

Hixon, 49, was one of 17 students and staffers who were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a former student on Feb. 14, 2018. Hixon was the school’s athletic director and tried to disarm the 19-year-old gunman.

The trail plaque reads, “High School Athletic Director, Coach, Navy Veteran and Hollywood resident Christopher B. Hixon died a hero on February 14, 2018, as one of the 17 victims of the Parkland school shooting.”

At the bottom, Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Vice Mayor Traci L. Callari said Hixon was a man of service, courage and heart, and it’s only fitting his spirit be felt in “a place filled with life.” His walkway will serve as a reminder to live with purpose.

Dozens of people looked on as his widow, Debra Hixon, and Mayor Levy revealed the memorial marker with Chris Hixon’s photograph at 800 Knights Road.

It was an emotional day — sad and exciting, said Debra Hixon, who is a Broward County School Board member.

Chris Hixon — who had two sons, Tommy and Corey — also meant so much to the community, Debra Hixon said.

She said she loves Hollywood, so “it’s so special to us that the city loves us back.”

Chris Hixon was full of life, she said. They enjoyed walking together through Stan Goldman Memorial Park on a weekly basis, making it even more special that a section of it was dedicated to him.

It’s really important to Debra Hixon that people don’t only remember the way he died, she said.

“I’m sure he is just so happy looking down that his legacy and his memory will go on forever, and not because he was murdered on February 14 but because he lived every day before that,” Debra Hixon said. “He lived as a coach. He lived as a dad, as a husband, as a brother, as a son, as a friend.”