In Part One, we briefly discussed two options under consideration by the Town government, related to the annual July Fourth parade. The community has hosted a parade for decades, and last July, the Town government relocated the parade off Main Street — also known as Highway 160 — and onto Hot Springs Boulevard, as a test run for the 2025 and 2026 seasonal celebrations… due to the fact that Main Street will be under construction for two years, 2025 and 2026.
The Hot Springs parade last year had run into several problems, and the Town staff — those responsible for organizing and supervising the annual parade — wanted to consider options other than a repeat of the somewhat stressful Hot Springs Boulevard route.
One of the issues last year: long wait times with nothing happening. Like, where’s the parade?
At this week’s Town Council meeting, the Recreation Department presented three possible alternatives for 2025.
1. Hot Springs Boulevard again, with additional safety limitations.
2. No parade at all, but instead some type of community gathering in Yamaguchi Park, adjacent to Pagosa Springs High School.
3. A “stationary parade” on South 6th Street.
From the Council agenda packet:
Option 3: Stationary Parade on 6th Street
Minimal Road Closures: Shifts floats to a stationary setup, reducing highway congestion and eliminating the need for parade-related road closures.
Walkable & Interactive: Spectators walk along displays at their own pace, reducing crowding and traffic conflicts. Can extend float parking option to 2 hours so it spreads out spectator viewing. Suggested time 10am. – noon
Here’s Recreation Director Darren Lewis, discussing Option 3:
“We are suggesting, if we don’t go with the parade, is to have a stationary… in a sense… parade. You could line up the floats… all the trucks that advertise, all the cars… everything on Sixth Street, facing towards the High School…”
“What that does, it kinda give a central location to all the parking that’s going to be available once this Main Street project starts…”
On the video screen, he pointed out the various convenient parking areas, close to the 6th Street location.
“If we want something like this, you’re not walking more than a couple of blocks from any of those parking areas, to Sixth Street. Not as many closed streets, not as much staff.”
Compared, that is, to the Hot Springs Boulevard parade.
“The staff costs, last year, just to put on the parade, was over $14,000. Just for staff. This [stationary parade] is an option, if we want something like that…
“Some of the things that are negative about this: We’re not going to have horses. They’re not going to want to stand around for two hours. We’re not going to have any marching, or a lot of pedestrian movement in regards to the people involved in the parade. But there will still be floats, cars, advertisement.
“But again, this is one option.”
Recreation Supervisor Amanda Gadomski:
“You know, last year, we tried the Hot Springs route, to have an alternative. It wasn’t the greatest solution, but we tried… We are still open to suggestions, but the staff does need to start early on this game, so we can be prepared this year…”
The Town Council listened to the presentation and then began offering their thoughts. Following questions from Council member Leonard Martinez, it became clear that Option 2 (something? in Yamaguchi Park) and Option 3 (the “stationary” parade) would cost less than an actual parade, and put fewer demands on Town staff.
Council member Maddie Bergon repeated some of the problems with the Hot Springs parade.
“I thought it was really cool, how close and intimate it was. It was a little bit sketchy sometimes, with the kiddos, with how close and intimate it was, but I think the volunteers and the staff, kind of cruising around and asking people to step back, they did a great job, and for the most part, the people watching the event understood that they shouldn’t be spilling into Hot Springs Boulevard… But it is a tight location, so we might want to try something different…”
Council member Brooks Lindner:
“I think you guys have come up with some really good options here; I appreciate your work on it. I think, as far as not having the parade on Hot Springs Boulevard, that’s fine. Everyone is going to be expecting chaos this summer, like you said.
“I would be willing to support Option 2 or 3 — the stationary parade, or the celebration at Yamaguchi, whichever you guys think would be better. The ‘stationary’ is maybe a little better idea, because those people who do participate in the parade, I know they really like to do it. It’s a good opportunity to promote their organizations. And for some of them, it might be great — they won’t have to be dancing on a moving float!
“My hope would be that this wouldn’t… in the future, when we’re back to normal on Main Street, that we can go back to our Main Street parade, and that we don’t forget it, and get to a place where… ‘Oh this is what we do now…’
“Because, man, closing down a major highway, and having a parade, is really cool.”
No decision was made on Tuesday, other than directing staff to continue researching ideas.
As Recreation Supervisor Amanda Gadomski left the meeting, I followed after her and asked if the planning team had considered Aspen Village as a possible parade site.
“Where is Aspen Village?” she asked.
“You know, where Walmart is.”
I pointed out the massive parking areas, the wide streets and sidewalks, the lack of through-traffic on most of the streets…
We could make good utilization of one of the town’s most under-utilized neighborhoods.
Ms. Gadomski seemed interested.
“Maybe we could get Walmart to sponsor the parade!” she suggested.