'We're Back On!": Aurora Pride Parade Will Happen As Planned Sunday

AURORA, IL — In an unexpected turn of events, Aurora Pride's parade is officially back on for Sunday after city officials reinstated the organization's special events permit Thursday evening.

To make it happen, police were offered an "unprecedented" triple-time pay incentive, officials said.

A few hours before the reversed decision, an administrative law judge denied Aurora Pride's appeal to the city's decision to revoke its special events permit due to a lack of police officers to safely staff Sunday's event. In response, Aurora Pride said it was bringing a federal lawsuit against the city for denying the event.

City officials said in a statement that even after the permit was revoked, they "continued our good faith efforts with the Aurora Police Department to secure the additional officers needed" to staff the parade.

RELATED: No Pride Parade? Aurora Revokes Parade Permit

On top of their regular duties, police officers have the option to work privately run special events that require law enforcement's support, like the Pride parade. But over time, police officials said they "have seen substantial changes, with many officers wishing to spend more time with their family and friends and less time volunteering to work beyond their regularly scheduled shifts."

Now, police will be paid extra for working Sunday's parade.

"The City didn't just double down on our efforts; we tripled down by offering an unprecedented triple-time financial incentive to our officers, and the required number of police officers to secure the parade has been successfully attained," reads a statement from city officials Thursday.

Officials said the primary goal of both the police department and city has "always" been the safety and security of parade-goers.

After exclaiming, "We're back on!" in a statement on their website, Aurora Pride organizers said they "look forward to welcoming everyone on Sunday morning." The parade will kick off at noon, starting near the intersection of East Benton Street and South Broadway.

From the starting point, near PNC Bank and Taqueria Durango, the parade will travel northeast on Broadway to Downer Place, turn left on Downer and continue northwest before ending near the intersection of West Downer Place and North Middle Avenue.

"While a series of unfortunate events may have led us on this path, we hope this course will continue to be paved with a focus on inclusivity, collaboration, and compromise for this year’s pride parade," city officials said.

Related reading:

• Aurora Police May Recommend Canceling Pride Parade: Cops
• Uniformed, Armed Cops Banned From Aurora Pride Parade, Organizers Say
• Irvin Won't March In Aurora Pride Parade, City Won't Have A Float