Should people be allowed to leave lawn chairs and blankets to reserve viewing space for the parade?

Posted by dancrue (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well ya.. WHy not?

Posted by controlledhyperness (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I voted yes..but within reason. I have ALREADY (as of 10 am) seen chairs out reserving locations...a day and a half BEFORE the parade...THAT seems a bit rediculous. However, knowing how popular this parade is, I can see it being something to be done tomorrow....

Posted by digger (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It makes the parade route and city look tacky I know its only one time a yr but I can't see why the city would allow it.

Posted by Videoguy84 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was out there at 8:00 this morning reserving my spot ;)

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would guess you do it at your own risk. Someone may decide to take your stuff or move it. Then what?

Posted by wilbur (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Any thing left on city prop for more than 12 hours should be fair game! Get a truck and collect them and sell them off!

Posted by podwod (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They make our city look trashy. A compromise: allow them at noon or later on the day of the parade.

Posted by mollielea (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hate this time of year, because I live along Bridge Avenue. In the past I have had to pick up dog droppings, cigarette butts and garbage on my lawn. I want to know the people who sit on my yard and who I know will be respectful. I came home at noon today with the intention of mowing my lawn this afternoon. Already, there were chairs and such items sitting there. This is ridiculous, and tacky. I agree with podwod, have them be the day of the parade, so everyone one is consistent and home owners have time to do what they need to do.

Posted by tamilynne (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

HAHA wilbur good idea.

I agree with ou podwod too. Day of the parade is more than enough time. None of this day and a half stuff. And be respectful... putting them ahead of time in public areas is one thing, but keep away from the homes. The homeowners and their families should be the ones getting the discression at whom sits there.

It's just the parade after all. Same thing year after year.

Posted by gone (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

More than a month is too much.

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yup! A few hours before the parade starts should be plenty of time.
A couple of years, I had to work on the 3rd of July go homw clean up and try to get back to a house of Bridge. Unfortunately, the police closed off Bridge an hour early and I couldn't get to the house on Bridge. Since then, I haven't seen the parade.

Posted by justathought (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think if property owners want to put out their chairs and stuff that is ok, they live there and should have the best seat from the curb in front of their house, but to put all the chairs and blankets on the sidewalks that people are using I don't think is right. I don't bike often but coming back from lunch I seen a bicyclist doing what he is suppose to and riding with traffic on bridge by the China restaurant. He was in the road and had to go around some chairs sticking out from the curb into the road. There isn't a ton of room so that is dangerous for the biker to have to go around with so much traffic. It is suppose to be very nice tonight and tomorrow and people walking and biking are going to have to go around everyones stuff. It isn't right. The day of should be good enough. Just a thought.

Posted by MaBarker (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder...do the people who leave their chairs, etc, in front of people's houses ASK for permission to leave their stuff there for such a long time? You know, to be considerate, respectful ????

Posted by stitch0852 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Seems to me, if you want to watch the parade, you go out early that afternoon, put your chairs out and SIT in them!

Littering the junk along the roadway is not the way to do it. It looks like a city of hobos.

Posted by GunnarBerg (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it's almost quaint to see all the "parade furniture" strewn along the street a day in advance. In many larger cities people would just steal everything. It reminds me that I live in a simple, safe little town that appreciates a good parade - not that you get me out there on a bet.

Posted by BorninAL (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it looks tacky to have all the chairs lined up along the parade route several hours before the parade starts. I have to agree with stitch0852, if you want a good seat, then SIT there all day. One other issue I have with the parade.....Why do so many of the adults have to be right alongside the road? Shouldn't there be some room for the children to spread out a blanket on the curb so they can catch the candy that is thrown out to them? Just something that I have seen that really bothers me.

Posted by dancrue (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 3:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WA WA WA to all who think it looks tacky. Its only for a day or 2. I do agree tho, if you live on the street you should have 1st chance on what you take care of.

Posted by podwod (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Last year I came to the parade with 15 minutes to spare. Guess what? I found a great seat over by St Theos. It's not like you won't get to see the parade if you don't put your chair out 2 days ahead of time. I don't get it. And please keep your chairs off the side walks if you're going to put it out early. That becomes a safety issue for others.

Posted by controlledhyperness (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While I agree all the chairs and blankets out early look a bit out of order, be greatful that even in the heyday of everyone getting their spots TODAY it STILL won't be that bad. I was up in Faribo for thier parade not too long ago, and there were MULTIPLE spots where lines were strung with cards marking the spot as "reserved". Keeping in mind, we are talking anywhere from 1/2 of a block up to 2 blocks per section. I understand there are some bigger groups, HOWEVER, THAT is what I call tacky! We live in a great area, and I think once a year we can overlook a minor detail like this.

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In the past, few people reserved their seating and I think everyone get fairly good seats anyway. Regardless, the parade will go on.

Posted by buddy (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that this is nuts. People put their stuff out up 50 houes early bcause why? Like a dog-----cuz they can. I think it looks kinda cute(like the parade is special) and they are proud. Remember this is the only place I know of that you can come in late and still have a spot without paying a fortune. Its better than a (I'm so darn specal with my special box) anyway. Let Albert Leans have a nitnoy of fun.Also I think if AL had enough units they wood shut off all entrances and charge to get in. Can you imagine. Then we'd have local pilot dropping people ih for a price? It could go on and on so the next time you see some in charge say Thank-You for doind their part in ln making this parage happen. Bring all of them in. GO ALBERT LEA.!!!!!!! If you served in Asia you will remember nitnot, like what all were paid.

Posted by sbahr (Stacey Bahr) on July 3, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Question: do the homeowners own the boulevards in front of their house? If so, then if I were a homeowner along the route, I would remove any chairs put in front of my house, let the owners of the chairs try and get them back from me. If not, I guess there's not much you could do about it other than putting your own stuff there first.

Personally, I think it's tacky. I've never not had a good seat at the parade, and I usually arrive minutes before it starts. Get a grip, people.

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Atleast they aren't camping out on the boulevards-yet.

Posted by OldTrojan (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Homeowners along the parade route would be well served to spray toxic chemicals on the grass along their curbs to prevent folks from setting up to early. A few cowpies strategically scattered about would be helpful as well.

Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! All the problems that face Albert Lea and I'm discussing leaving chairs and blankets on a parade route.
Tim Engstrom. How about discussing why we have a Southside Businessmens Association and A Downtown Businessmens Association(or atleast we did) in Albert Lea. Why don't we have an Albert Lea Businessmens Association that promotes the whole town? My brother-in-law from Iowa was asking that question.

Posted by maurice (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To Wildbill: Why not an Albert Lea Business Association. Women run businesses, too.