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Without 'Serious Improvements,' Pride Parade Will Leave Boystown, City Says

By Ariel Cheung | April 27, 2015 7:06pm
 Attendance at Pride Parade has swelled to more than 1 million people.
Attendance at Pride Parade has swelled to more than 1 million people.
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DNAinfo/Justin Barbin

BOYSTOWN — This year will make or break Pride Parade in Boystown.

While the June 28 parade won't move this year, city officials insist it will take steps to move it if something isn't done about its disruptive impact.

"[I]f there is not a serious improvement in the parade's impact on surrounding residents' quality of life this year, the next step is to assemble an advisory group to make recommendations for moving the parade out of the Lakeview community," according to joint statement released Monday evening from the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Aldermen Tom Tunney (44th) and James Cappleman (46th).

Over the last several months, the Mayor's Office has met with Tunney, Cappleman and a community advisory group to discuss the parade's future.

Ariel Cheung says officials are seriously considering the move:

More than a million people attended the parade in 2013 and 2014, with 850,000 estimated attendees in 2012 and 450,000 in 2005.

This year, the city promises improved parade operations, stricter public safety plans and "enhanced enforcement" against public drinking.

The parade route was extended into Uptown in 2012 to alleviate congestion, and further growth led to a 2013 split between the parade and Pride Fest. The 2015 street festival is set for a week before the parade, June 20 and 21.

Last fall, Tunney's office surveyed neighbors about whether the parade should move, and 55 percent supported the parade remaining in Boystown.

"We ask for your support in keeping the parade safe by celebrating both responsibly and respectfully. If we do not see significant improvement this year, it may be the last year that the parade is in our community," the aldermen said.

Full statement released by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events:

Lakeview has been home to the Chicago Pride Parade since 1971 and it has grown to be one the largest and most well-known Pride events in the world. As the parade continues to grow in popularity and size, its growth has presented additional challenges. Over the past several months, the Mayor's Office and local aldermen have met to discuss the future of the Pride Parade, and an advisory group of community stakeholders has been assembled to recommend changes to this year's parade.

These changes will include a stricter public safety plan, enhanced enforcement against drinking on the public way, and improvements to parade operations. The parties are in agreement that if there is not a serious improvement in the parade’s impact on surrounding residents' quality of life this year, the next step is to assemble an advisory group to make recommendations for moving the parade out of the Lakeview community.

“We ask for your support in keeping the parade safe by celebrating both responsibly and respectfully,” said Aldermen Tom Tunney and James Cappleman. “If we do not see significant improvement this year, it may be the last year that the parade is in our community. Let’s work together to ensure that the Pride Parade is a positive reflection of our pride in our neighborhood, city and LGBT community.”

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