Chicago Pride Parade Organizer Richard Pfeiffer, Alderman Tom Tunney (44th Ward) and Alderman James Cappleman (46th Ward) detailed plans for this year's Pride Parade at press conference June 19.
Due to congestion at El stops, overcrowding in the streets and public drinking in 2011, organizers have changed the route this year.
While organizers previously announced changes in the route, Tunney announced another change to the event: a significant crackdown on public drinking.
Police will be issuing tickets or arresting those caught with open containers of alcohol, according to a statement from Tunney's office.
The parade kicks off at noon on Sunday and begins at the corner of Montrose and Broadway in the Uptown neighborhood, ending at Sheridan and Diversey.
Last year's parade saw roughly 750,000 attendees, cramming spectators between buildings and on the corner of Grace and Broadway where the parade previously turned.
"We are really making these parade route changes really in the interest of public safety," said Tunney. "The more we can do to spread the length of the route out, offer more public transit options, more stations where [spectators] can see the parade."
The changes add five blocks to the parade, stretching the route into the Uptown neighborhood. Cappleman said he welcomed that change.
"We have two openly gay Aldermen who are having the Gay Pride Parade in their Wards," said Cappleman. "This is something that the City of Chicago should be very, very proud [of]."
Asked by reporters if this year's parade made him nervous, Tunney said, "we're excited."
According to Tunney, attendance at the parade has tripled in the last five years. He said that jump in attendance signals a jump in support for LGBT Chicagoans.
See enlargement of map at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/2012PrideParadeMap.pdf .
