Southwest Montana News

City Manager Tim Burton provided an update on the Vigilante Parade, addressing safety concerns related to the Walking Mall. According to Burton, public safety officials have been in discussions with Helena Public School District and have found a way to keep the parade route unchanged while implementing new safety measures.

Burton emphasized that maintaining emergency vehicle access during the parade is a primary concern for fire, police, and transportation teams. The large size of parade vehicles presents challenges for emergency response in the Walking Mall area.

To address these concerns, city staff and the school district will implement several strategies:

- Limitations on vehicle and trailer sizes will be enforced. Trucks larger than 1-ton pickups are prohibited, and trailers cannot exceed 25 feet in length.

- Vehicles entering the Walking Mall will be spaced out by city staff to allow room for emergency vehicles if needed.

- The intersection of 6th Avenue and Last Chance Gulch must remain clear of obstructions. Crowd managers will ensure spectators do not block this area.

- Barriers on the Walking Mall will be placed with adequate spacing as managed by crowd control personnel.

"We appreciate the School District’s commitment to working through the safety issues with the City and ensuring that the parade continues in its current format," said Burton.

The city plans to continue discussions about improving special event permits and enhancing event safety. These talks involve event organizers, the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and other stakeholders. A safety plan for events has already been developed in partnership with BID, along with crowd management training. Additionally, there is interest in establishing traffic control training.

"The City will continue to utilize our partnership with the BID and our various parade organizers to support each other’s efforts," Burton added.