Committee recommends keeping existing July 4 parade route this year; ODOT permit required to close State Route 37

City staff and the Events and Commemoration Committee on March 20 recommended keeping the existing July 4 parade route for 2025 while the committee studies timing and dispersal patterns and pursues a permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation to close State Route 37 during the parade.

Staff described the current route as starting at Big Walnut Middle School, proceeding down Columbus Street, turning onto Cherry Street, continuing to Granville and then returning to the middle school via East and Bauman streets. The planning working group — which includes city staff, Sunbury Police, fire representatives, the service department and a community representative — has met twice and is focused this year on measuring parade timing, the end-of-parade dispersal pattern, and what space remains available on the square for activities.

Officials said the police department supports keeping the route for now; staff noted that the State Route 37 widening project on the city’s east side will require a future route change once construction begins. Staff also said the committee must secure a permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation to close the state route for the parade and that the committee is pursuing that process. Committee members raised concerns about how changes to the route would alter crowding on the square and noted the fire department’s input that the square can hold many people but that alternate routes can shift dense crowds into different spaces. The committee will continue timing studies this year and discuss square activities at a later meeting.