On the heels of the biggest and best St. Paddy’s Parade to date, Central Adirondack Association officials are looking at ways to improve parades on Main Street.
It is apparent to them that given the size and popularity of the numerous parades in Old Forge, safety and control issues must be improved.
CAA director Chip Kiefer, coordinator of several local parades, has initiated a standardization program to ensure that all parades currently scheduled and any future parades will have a format to follow.
“Each year, the CAA parades have become a bit larger, and the spectator base for the parades also keeps growing,” Kiefer said. “The CAA is drafting parade guidelines to make sure the parades will be the best and safest possible.”
A small group of CAA members met recently, and discussed with Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle and Police Chief John Russell issues related to local parades.
The outcome of this meeting will be newly created parade guidelines and protocols which will help the safe conduct of parades here.
Police Chief Russell applauded the idea of parade guidelines.
“We need to make sure our parades are safe for both the spectators and the parade participants,” Russell said.
All agreed that the increased use of barricades and cones along the parade route is a step in the right direction, and that more needs to be done to keep spectators a safe distance from the parade vehicles.
The CAA will consider funding to pay for more parade barricades for Route 28, which Chief Russell endorsed.
Supervisor Riehle agreed, adding, “Since Route 28 is a state highway, we need to make sure our parades address certain DOT guidelines required for parades using this route.”
This meeting addressed a number of ideas that will make all the parades better, and these ideas will be incorporated into the new Parade Protocols.
The new protocols will be presented at the next CAA meeting of the Board of Directors, and then will be passed on to the Town of Webb.
CAA officials emphasized that none of the parades that have taken pace in the last year will be cancelled for the future.
Comments or suggestions about any of the local parades can be forwarded to Chip Kiefer at Souvenir Village.