SHORELINE — A march scheduled for Saturday, May 15, is expected to close down a portion of NE 15th St, from 165th to 145th streets for two hours, beginning 10 a.m. until noon.
The march is organized by Washington Federation of State Employees, Friends of Fircrest, Fircrest supporters and Shoreline neighbors.
According to Friends of Fircrest member Maureen Durkan, who has a sister living at Fircrest, the group has had several rallies, but has never before organized a parade. The parade, she said, will bring attention to the Fircrest school for the developmentally disabled, which many people believe is in jeopardy of closing.
“This is different,” Durkan said about the parade. “The community is stepping up and getting more involved.”
Council members at the May 10 meeting briefly discussed the requirements of a parade permit, which changed once estimates of marchers changed from 300 to 3,000 people.
According to city management analyst Bernard Seeger, the cost of the parade permit was $1,400, which includes hiring police officers and cones to block off the road. A $5,000 bond was required, which will be returned to the group assuming no other costs are incurred.
The Council also discussed whether NE 15th St. needed to be closed down for the march.
“If there are indeed 3,000 people, there is no way they can stay on the sidewalk,” Burkett said. “We are working with them in a reasonable way to allow them to use the street.”
Marchers will meet at Ridgecrest Elementary School, 16516 10th Ave. NE. and march south on 15th Avenue NE toward NE 145th Street. They will then turn around and march to Fircrest, where a rally and barbecue will take place.
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