Starting in 2008, the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade & Committee went “green” in a whole new way.

In an effort to make our community’s Parade more fiscally responsible and environmentally friendly, the Parade Committee moved to online registration through its Web site, www.syracusestpatricksParade.org. This reduced paper usage and cut mailing costs, redirecting resources from administrative work to the staging of a first-rate Parade for our CNY community. The Web site has also provided a central location for participants and viewers to follow Parade news & surrounding events.

Additionally, with some guidance from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the Parade Committee has offered these suggestions to viewers and participants who want to help make the Parade a little easier on our planet.

• Construct a float from recycled materials and then plan to set the material aside for use again the following year and beyond.
• Travel by mass transit or car pool from your homes to downtown Syracuse. We have a map of all the city parking lots up on our Web site.

In addition to online registration, the Parade took a step toward environmental friendliness by limiting the number of vehicles in the lineup. Participants were asked to leave cars, trucks and buses at home and walk or ride on a float through the Parade route! The obvious exception is for vehicles that are used to pull floats.

In 2010, we restricted groups of parents from marching with their children. An adequate number of chaperones will be allowed; however, we ask that the majority of parents meet their children at the end of the Parade.

Please, remember that this event focuses on culture and community and quite frankly, it is not an excuse for public intoxication. The Parade Committee, working in cooperation with the City of Syracuse, is taking steps to curtail excessive drinking, and we are addressing these issues with some of the establishments in Armory Square. The problems, which have arisen, are caused by less than 1/2 of 1% of the Parade spectators—but for some reason that has become the focus rather than paying homage to our community and celebrating the culture and traditions of the Irish.

Again, for the 2011 Parade, let’s focus on the wonder of the Mass at the Cathedral before the Parade (standing-room only), the Parade itself, and the party at the Hotel Syracuse after the Parade, which is a family event.

-- Janet Higgins, President, Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade Committee