Fourth of July Parade To Honor Aurora Health Care Workers

AURORA, IL — Aurora police, firefighters and city officials are set to lead a parade Saturday between the city’s two hospitals to "kick off the Fourth of July with a much-deserved salute to our health care heroes," Mayor Richard Irvin announced Tuesday.

The parade is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the Rush Copley Medical Center on the city's east side. The parade route goes past seven nursing homes and senior-care centers in the city, where 48 deaths and 240 cases of the coronavirus have been reported, according to public health data. It will come to an end about two hours later at AMITA Mercy Medical Center on the city's east side, officials said.

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"While the traditional Fourth of July Parade isn't possible this year, we will still take the time to honor our heroes and celebrate our nation during a Fourth of July Procession," Irvin said in a news release. "Last year, we honored our 911 Operators in Aurora. This year, we'll honor our doctors, nurses and all healthcare professionals for their work during these trying times and each day of the year. They certainly have helped to keep our community together while sacrificing so much of themselves in the process."

Aurora officials in May canceled the annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks display — and all other public events this summer — out of an "abundance of caution" for residents' safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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The parade Saturday is set to include members of the Aurora police and fire departments, the Aurora City Council, the city’s Emergency Management Agency and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

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"I know these are unprecedented times that seem to have thrown us back-to-back curveballs this year,” Irvin said Tuesday, referencing the coronavirus pandemic and weeks of protests for police reform after George Floyd's killing in May. "I know we long for a sense of normalcy and some form of summer fun that we can treasure as we have every summer here in the city of Aurora."

Irvin also welcomed residents to watch the parade from their homes or any public areas along the route where they maintain social distancing.

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Scheduled Parade Route
• Start at Rush Copley Medical Center
• North on Waterford Drive to Alden Circle
• Past Alden of Waterford to Montgomery Road
• West on Montgomery Road to Hill Avenue
• North on Hill Avenue to Sixth Avenue
• West on Sixth Avenue past Sunnymere Senior Living Community to Smith Street
• North on Smith Street to Fifth Avenue
• West on Fifth Avenue to Jackson Street
• North on Jackson Street to North Avenue
• West on North Avenue to Lasalle Street
• North on Lasalle Street past Jennings Terrace to Downer Place
• West on Downer Place to River Street (at about 10:25 a.m.)
• North on River Street to West Park Avenue
• West on West Park Avenue past Presence Fox Knoll to Lake Street
• South on Lake Street to Galena Boulevard
• West on Galena Boulevard past Elmwood Terrace, Symphony of Orchard Valley, and Bickford of Aurora
• North on Orchard Road to Indian Trail Road
• East on Indian Trail Road to Mercy Lane
• End at AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center (at about 10:45 a.m.)