Silver Spur Rodeo Parade has new route

Roadwork forces change of pace; event is Feb. 11

The Silver Spur Rodeo Parade will follow a new route this month owing to ongoing roadwork at 16th Street and 4th Avenue.

The Yuma Jaycees’ parade on Feb. 11 will still pass between throngs of cheering spectators lined up on both sides of 4th Avenue. But it’ll leave downtown Yuma and head south, instead of going north to the downtown.

The route is changing this year because the intersection widening project is taking up the area where floats, marching bands and other entries traditionally lined up to kick off the parade.

“We look at it as growing pains,” said Greg Gardner, past rodeo chairman and adviser for this year’s ro- deo. “The city of Yuma is growing, and that presents a challenge to the rodeo committee as well as to the city. We were asked to look at different routes, and that is what the city recommended.”

The route change represents a departure from a tradition of many years, with the parade previously assembling near 4th and 15th Street, proceeding north on 4th and turning down Orange Avenue, before disbanding in the downtown.

The 72nd annual rodeo parade, theme of which will be “Cowboy Boots & Wild West Roots,” will assemble in the dirt lot on Maiden Lane on Feb. 11. It is scheduled to get under way at 9:30 a.m., following this route:

• North on Maiden Lane to 2nd Street, then west on 2nd Street to Main Street.

• South on Main Street to Giss Parkway, then west on Giss to 2nd Avenue.

• South on 2nd Avenue to 4th Street, the west on 4th Street to 4th Avenue.

• South on 4th Avenue to 12th Street, ending at 12th Street.

As in past years, judges will present awards for the best floats, marching bands, riding groups, vehicles and entries in other categories.

The deadline for businesses, community organizations and other groups to submit applications to include their entries in the parade lineup for judging has been extended to 3 p.m. today.

Parade entry applications can be dropped off at the Jaycees clubhouse at 2577 E. County 14th St., or emailed to info@yumarodeo.com. For those submitting applications in person, drive south on Avenue 3E past the Marine Corps Air Station, then turn right on County 14th Street to reach the clubhouse.

Applications will continue to be accepted after today, but late entries will be placed at the end of the parade and will not be eligible for judging, Gardner said.

Floats that will be judged should be at the staging area on Maiden Lane no later than 6 a.m. the day of the parade, he said. All other entries should arrive no later than 8 a.m.

Yuma Police spokeswoman Sgt. Lori Franklin said during the parade no parking will be allowed in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue nor in the 300 block of 4th Street.

Gardner said it’s too early to decide whether the route for Feb. 11 will remain the same next year.

“We’re just going to adapt, and we just hope the word gets out.”