North Ogden picks Washington Boulevard for Cherry Days parade; staff outlines safety, chair and fireworks plans

North Ogden city staff told the City Council on April 4 that Washington Boulevard will be used for this year’s Cherry Days parade, and outlined traffic control and safety measures for the event.

Staff member John said the police and public‑works departments recommended Washington after weighing turning and staging constraints on the alternate 3100 North route. “We thought it’d be easier to funnel people in for safety, and then we wouldn’t have to worry about those that were longer floats or longer vehicles,” John said.

The recommendation matters because staff described several operational measures intended to separate parade traffic from pedestrians: snow‑plow trucks will be used as barricades near the O’Reilly’s and at the fire station, a drop‑off zone will be moved to 450 near 2700 to reduce vehicle‑pedestrian conflicts, and the parade finish line will be shifted to provide a buffer for off‑loading participants.

Why it matters: organizers said the Washington route reduces tight turning for larger floats and allows staff to better manage vehicle and pedestrian flows. Council members and staff also discussed the event schedule and supporting activities that will take place across the week of Cherry Days.

Chairs and enforcement: staff described a history of conflict when crews removed early‑placed chairs, including past confrontations that required police intervention. Staff recommended against actively removing chairs because of the safety risk to city employees, and instead asked the council to authorize a public information push encouraging residents to be courteous and not put chairs out days in advance. John said staff will remind residents that the city is not responsible for lost or damaged personal property left in public areas.

Council members agreed there would be no staff enforcement action to collect chairs, but asked staff to post clear guidance early and to use public messaging as the primary tool. Staff also proposed using lifeguards and other volunteers to help with road closures and pedestrian flow on parade day.

Fireworks and entertainment: the city confirmed a fireworks show at the amphitheater, with music and children’s activities. Staff said a combined drone‑and‑fireworks show would be “three times” the cost for July 4, so the city plans a conventional shell show with vendor oversight and fire‑marshal review. Fire marshal Ryan (role: fire marshal) will work with the vendor to pick launch points, determine safe shell sizes and set distance buffers so the display can be viewed closer to the amphitheater while meeting safety rules.

Schedule, volunteers and budget: staff reviewed the Cherry Days week: car show (Monday), luau (Tuesday), flick‑and‑float (Wednesday), parade and traditional events (Friday), and a volunteer cleanup (Saturday). Morgan, the contracted event coordinator, has a fundraising target of about $30,000; staff said that would put total event resources near $55,000, with the city’s anticipated out‑of‑pocket share roughly $25,000 if sponsorships meet expectations. Staff presented a tentative overall Cherry Days budget of about $50,000 pending formal budget action.

Public comment: North Ogden residents spoke during public comment. Phillip Swanson suggested closing the southbound lane and running all parade traffic in the northbound lane to simplify candy distribution and reduce children’s exposure to moving vehicles. Susan Kilborn, a resident who has volunteered on children’s events, said she and other long‑time volunteers were disappointed by the change from 3100 North to Washington Boulevard and concerned about the children’s parade safety; she said some volunteers would not participate if the route is on Washington.

What’s next: staff said they have already filed for a flyover permit and other paperwork; they will finalize the route and publish clear guidance for residents and attendees about drop‑off points, parking restrictions, and recommended times for placing chairs. Volunteers from parks, lifeguards and city council members will participate in closures and crowd management as part of the event plan.