South Kitsap High's senior parade down Bay Street likely to go on after city accepts permit application
Organizers of the South Kitsap High School Class of 2023 senior parade are confident that the event can continue as a pre-graduation celebration on Bay Street in downtown Port Orchard, despite missing a deadline imposed by the city that applies to the now three-year-old tradition.
Parade organizers Jeff Gatlin, Kim Shaw and Eric Worden initially expressed doubts about holding this year's festivities, after failing to fill out an application for the city that must be submitted at least 120 days prior to events where road closures are involved. The deadline is in place so the city can review plans and coordinate with various agencies, including police, fire, transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
On Tuesday evening, Port Orchard mayor Rob Putaansuu and city council members waved the 120-day permitting requirement and agreed to cover the cost of the application fee in order to expedite the permitting process for the parade, tentatively scheduled for June 9.
"We all want to see a successful event," the mayor said, "but the city must require that the event be conducted in a safe and legal manner."
Worden said he is looking forward to students being celebrated at the community event.
"I'm extremely thankful were were able to gather the right people to make this happen," said Worden, noting that Port Orchard business owners Rob McGee and Chuck Huck of Whiskey Gulch CoffeePub stepped up to handle the application process and that Gig Harbor-based Sound Pacific Construction agreed to formulate and submit the traffic control plan on behalf of parade organizers, free of charge.
South Kitsap's hour-long graduate parade began in 2020 as a way to honor seniors who didn't have the opportunity to attend traditional graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and volunteers continued with the parade in 2021 and 2022.
Port Orchard City Clerk Brandy Wallace told the Kitsap Sun that the city didn't require organizers to submit a permit application the previous three years. Things changed last summer.
"After the event in 2022, the city evaluated the event and determined based on safety concerns and unusual traffic impacts a permit would be required for 2023," Wallace said.
Worden voiced his doubts about the 2023 parade in a recent Facebook post, stating that organizers would not be able to secure the funding — a figure he estimated to be $15,000 — to pay for the city's permitting requirements.
On Monday, the city responded with news release. While not identifying anyone individually, the release described "efforts by some to inaccurately represent the city's requirements necessary to protect both parade participants and those who utilize the city's roadways" as inappropriate and disheartening.
Now that a parade application has been filed with the city, Putaansuu said the city will do everything in its power to shepherd it through the required public processes.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: South Kitsap High senior parade will continue with Port Orchard waiver
