Traffic authority approves Conservatory graduation sidewalk walk with contingencies

The Norwalk Traffic Authority on April 21 approved a sidewalk-only procession of Norwalk Conservatory students from the Conservatory to City Hall for a May 3 graduation, contingent on an updated special-event application, police staffing confirmation and advance notice to businesses along the route.

The authority’s approval followed a discussion about discrepancies between the event application, which listed as many as 400 tickets, and the organizers’ statement that about 43 students will walk from the Conservatory to City Hall. Daniel George, president of the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, said the application’s higher numbers resulted from an office miscommunication about concert-hall capacity and that most parents would meet graduates at City Hall rather than march. “So safety is always my first priority and always the first priority of the conservatory,” George said.

Members of the authority and Norwalk police expressed safety and crowd-control concerns, given other events in the downtown area that day and the proximity of busy crossings at East Avenue, River Street and Belden Avenue. Chief Walsh said the department was initially notified six weeks earlier about a larger roadway parade; the plan subsequently shifted to a sidewalk procession, prompting questions about how the final participant count would be verified and enforced. Walsh described the logistical challenge of maintaining a safe perimeter and said stationary police positions would require “at least six officers” depending on the configuration.

Benjamin Young, a city staff member handling special events, told the authority he had followed up with organizers after earlier meetings and that he expected the Conservatory to submit a revised application that matches the organizers’ current plan. Commissioners asked the Conservatory to revise the application to list the actual expected number of participants (about 43 students) and to clarify the procession timing and formation (two-by-two or single file) and spectator direction so sidewalks remain clear.

The authority’s motion to approve the procession passed with unanimous ayes and included three contingencies recorded for the public record: coordination with the police department to confirm staffing needs, revision and resubmission of the special-event application to reflect actual participant numbers and logistics, and notification of businesses along the planned route in advance of the event.

Votes at a glance - Conservatory graduation procession (May 3) — Approved contingent on: (1) police staffing confirmation, (2) revised special-event application reflecting 43 students, and (3) advance business notification. Motion passed unanimously. - Rowayton Memorial Day Parade (full closure) — Approved unanimously; route unchanged from prior years. - RCA Father’s Day Run (June 15) — Approved unanimously; organizers estimated ~50 participants plus spectators and volunteers. - City Memorial Day Parade (full closure; state route segments) — Approved unanimously.

The authority asked Chief Walsh and his deputy to work with Conservatory organizers and city staff to finalize the application and staffing arrangements before the event. The authority will reconvene May 19 at 4 p.m.