The Walled Lake City Council voted 4–2 to keep the Memorial Day parade’s starting location at the Walled Lake Schools Administration Building rather than returning the start to the downtown Maple Street area, citing public-safety concerns raised by police and fire officials.

Deputy Public Safety Director and interim Fire Chief Paul Shikinis told council members he and fire department leadership believe the current starting location is “a safer route.” He read a memo to the council that framed the recommendation as a safety decision: “The current route offers much more safety and is easier contained,” he said, adding that unloading and loading parade participants downtown is “difficult at best.”

Shikinis referenced mass-casualty incidents elsewhere to underscore the department’s concern about large public gatherings. “I know we can say it never happened in Walled Lake, but it can happen anywhere,” he said, noting recent national incidents where parades were targeted.

Several council members urged a return downtown, saying residents want the event in the traditional downtown setting and that the city can manage logistics. A council member who supported returning the parade downtown said turnout felt lower since the route moved and asked the council to weigh resident preference.

Council member Casey Ambrose moved to keep the current route; Ambrose’s motion was seconded and put to a roll-call vote. Voting yes to retain the current starting location were John Osenick, Ryan Woods, Casey Ambrose and Mindy Fernandez. Voting no were Linda Ackley and Bennett Lublin. The motion passed 4–2.

City staff said the council’s decision will allow event planners to finalize staging and security plans for the upcoming parade and that staff will continue working with public-safety teams on logistics and crowd control.