After Duck Days, University Place council pushes for staged performances, tighter routing and safety fixes

City staff reviewed the recent Duck Days parade and told council the event drew strong participation and went smoothly overall, while identifying operational fixes for next year.

Public Works Director Jack Eklund and Program Manager Marion Holloway said the parade had 46 participant groups — about 10 more than the prior year — and staff credited improved participant pre‑briefings, emergency‑weather planning and traffic management for a successful event. "We had 46 separate groups as participants... in excess of what our pre‑COVID levels are," Holloway said. Staff noted three main operational lessons: a delay in golf‑cart staging and council member vehicle logistics, inconsistent parade pacing with large gaps between groups, and one lead group that did not follow traffic control direction and took the older route instead of the shorter route near Market Square.

Council members offered a long list of ideas to sharpen operations and enhance the spectator experience: create staged performance spots or coordinated pause points so groups can perform without creating long gaps; a clear participant check‑in tent with assigned entry numbers so vehicles and walking groups stay together; stronger physical barriers or parked city vehicles at side‑street access points to deter unauthorized vehicle entry; exploring a loop route so participants finish near their staging area; and recruiting eye‑catching entries such as club cars, local car collectors or decorated city vehicles to boost interest.

Staff said they will pursue practical fixes — including renting and staging golf carts the day before, improving traffic‑control instructions and signage at the check‑in area, and reviewing physical barrier placement — and will follow up with council on specific process changes.