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SALT LAKE CITY — Days of '47 parade organizers say next month's event won't end at Salt Lake City's Liberty Park for the first time in almost a century, if not ever since the park was established.
The Days of '47 Inc. officials announced Tuesday that they are ending next month's Pioneer Day parade at 800 South and 600 East, a block north of the park, because of ongoing construction by the park's entrance on 900 South. Greg James, the organization's vice president and spokesman, said that construction on 900 South is making it "difficult for floats, bands and other entries to take the traditional path."
"You can't turn the floats safely on a tight corner," he said. "You've got people who walk on the four corners of the float because the driver is not really capable of seeing much, and those corners were just going to be too much for us."
The parade will still begin by the South Temple-State Street intersection at 9 a.m. on July 24, moving east before the route turns south on 200 East. But the path then turns east on 800 South as the event ends at its new terminus. Once at the end, organizers will send floats, horse units and bands in different directions to avoid overcrowding in the area.
The Days of '47 Parade dates back to 1849, two years after pioneers with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled in the Salt Lake Valley. The popular parade will feature more than 130 entries again this year.
"This parade is a treasured tradition," said Days of '47 Board Chairman Lane Summerhays in a statement.
Days of '47 Event Schedule
- Pioneers of Progress (awards gala banquet honoring modern-day Utahns exhibiting pioneer spirit): July 13, 6:30 p.m. at The Grand America Hotel, 555 Main in Salt Lake City.
- POPS Concert (featuring BYU Vocal Point with Choral Arts Society of Utah and West Valley Symphony of Utah): July 14-15, 7:30 p.m. at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple in Salt Lake City.
- Super Duper Day Devotional (featuring Gail Miller): July 17, 10 a.m. at This is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City.
- Utah Days of '47 Rodeo: July 19-22 and 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Days of '47 Arena at Utah State Fair Park, 155 N. 1000 West, Salt Lake City.
- Float Preview Party: July 21-22, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State, Sandy.
- First Encampment Hike (a walk in the footsteps of the 1847 pioneers): July 22, 7 a.m. at Donner Park, 2770 E. 990 South, Salt Lake City.
- Deseret News Marathon (Marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K): Marathon begins at the top of Big Mountain above Emigration Canyon at 5:30 a.m. on July 24.
- Sunrise Service (featuring music by the Salt Lake Valley Combined Institute Choir): July 24, 7 a.m. at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, 50 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City. Guests must be seated by 6:50 a.m.
- Days of '47 Parade: July 24, 9 a.m. in downtown Salt Lake City.
The organization announced the slight change in plans almost a full month early so that people can prepare for the change, especially since it's not uncommon for people to camp in the park overnight to get a good seat for the show. James told KSL.com that he hopes to have the parade end at Liberty Park again next year.
"We hope it's a one-time occurrence. Ending at the park is great for everybody," he said. "The crowds like it; a lot of people go there to see the end of the parade."
The 900 South construction is tied to Salt Lake City's 9-Line trail, a pathway that will eventually connect the park as far west as Redwood Road with a connection to the Jordan River Parkway trail along the way. The pathway also goes as far east as Lincoln Street near the "Out of the Blue" statue in the city. The pathway is considered the southern end of the city's future "Green Loop."
City officials report that project work near the Liberty Park entrance is "nearing completion," though additional work on 900 South is scheduled for this summer.
