Oak Grove approves homecoming parade permit with safety contingencies

The Oak Grove Board of Alderwomen voted Sept. 16 to approve a special event permit for the Oak Grove School District—s Homecoming Parade and bonfire scheduled for Oct. 23, 2024, after extended discussion over parade safety and traffic control.

Staff said the district (athletic director Ryan Schwartz) requested a parade on Fourteenth Street from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and a bonfire the same week. Board members, the police chief and school-affiliated volunteers focused discussion on preventing vehicles from re-entering the parade route from staging parking at First Baptist Church, reducing long gaps caused by the band and football players, and directing spectator traffic so parents can retrieve children without cutting into the parade.

"I just cannot condone stopping the parade after that point," the Chief said, arguing for keeping the parade moving once the band finishes to avoid prolonged traffic stoppages and officer overtime. Board members and school representatives proposed several mitigations: clearer communication about parking, using cones and temporary no-parking signage, assigning teachers or volunteers at specific exits to control vehicle departures, shifting short speeches to pep-rally settings and using additional staff or golf carts to keep the route moving.

Megan Kemp, sponsor for the cheerleaders, and other school volunteers offered to recruit teachers and coaches to station at exits; the chief said police and school staff will coordinate timing and volunteer placement. The board—s motion to approve the permit included a contingency that the district work with the police department on extra volunteer coverage around the First Baptist parking lot. The motion carried on a voice vote.

The permit covers both the parade route and a bonfire; the board asked the chief and staff to finalize operational details with the district and return if additional permit modifications are needed.