Pittsburgh Releases Updated St. Patrick's Day Parade Safety Plan

PITTSBURGH, PA — The city will shed its black-and-gold pride for a day on Saturday and don green for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say the are prepared.

"Department of Public Safety employees from all of the bureaus have been preparing for months to ensure residents and visitors can safely enjoy the parade and entertainment areas of the city this weekend," department director Lee Schmidt said.

"Working closely with the Pittsburgh Police Intelligence Unit, I am confident that the city is hosting a world-class parade in whicheveryone should feel comfortable participating."

For more than 150 years, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade has attracted enormous crowds. This year, as many as 200,000 spectators are expected to line the route. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Liberty Avenue and 11th Street at the edge of the Strip District, with staging beginning at 26th and Liberty at approximately 7 a.m.

The route proceeds down Grant Street from Liberty and turns right onto the Boulevard of the Allies before ending at the reviewing stand at Stanwix Street. "No Parking" signs have been placed along the 1.4 milelong parade route 48 hours in advance of the event, which is estimated
to last about three-and-a-half hours. Tagging and towing will begin at 6 a.m. Saturday morning.