To the editor:

Oct. 2 was Lawrence High School’s annual homecoming. As you may know, LHS has a week of festivities leading up to the game. One of the main events of the week is the annual LHS Homecoming Parade. The parade lined up at Trinity Lutheran Church and headed south down Massachusetts Street for about six blocks to LHS. My family and friends chose to watch the parade in front of Dillons on Massachusetts. Many people were spaced along the entire route of the short parade.

I was shocked that, as the parade progressed using the southbound lane, the northbound lane was open to traffic. Keep in mind that parade participants were tossing candy to children all along the route as semi-trailers, cars, etc. passed by at normal speed. This was NOT a safe environment, and I remain amazed the city would allow this to happen. Will it take an innocent parade watcher getting injured or killed for action?

I mentioned my concerns to the police officer at the end of the parade. His response was, “The city won’t allow northbound traffic to be shut down. Call your city commissioner.”  

The parade lasted about 15 minutes (or less). We seem to be able to close streets for other parades: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, KU Band Day, just to name a few. In a small town like Lawrence that prides itself on holding old-fashioned parades, closing a street for 15 minutes is a small price to pay for a safe, fun, wholesome activity. Don’t you agree?