Sylva Christmas parade to change direction

By Lynn Hotaling

Instead of starting on the west (courthouse) end of Sylva, this year's downtown Christmas Parade will enter the business district from the east (by Meatballs) and march toward the historic Jackson County Courthouse.

The parade route was discussed at last Thursday's (Nov. 2) meeting of the Sylva Town Board. Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison based his decision to change the parade route on both traffic flow and safety considerations, he said. This year's parade will begin at the old Chasam plant (now Keeco) on Scotts Creek Road, proceed to McDonald's via Skyland Drive, turn right onto Business 23 and continue to Main Street.

"I really think it will make it safer," Jamison said of the new route. "It's different, but I want to try it."

The police chief cited problems with the last two parades, which ended at the old A&P (Sylva Plaza) and Melton's Funeral Home. Ending at the A&P makes the route more than 2 miles, Jamison said, and the final portion was uphill making it difficult for the younger marchers.

Winding up at Melton's, while a shorter route, caused problems with congestion and compromised the safety of both parade participants and officers engaged in traffic control, he said.

Having the parade march toward the west end of town should help ease traffic congestion, Jamison said, by allowing parade watchers to exit town on N.C. 107 toward Cullowhee without running into the parade.

The distance from Keeco to Mark Watson Park (where walkers will exit the parade) is equal to the distance from the old Buster Brown plant to Melton's - 1.8 miles, Jamison said, and contains no uphill portions for walkers.

A drawback mentioned by the police chief is the amount of time it will take the parade to reach Main Street. Town board members added their concerns about the safety of walking parade participants, many of them young children, if the parade begins at Keeco.

"It's too dark down there and there are no street lights until Skyland Drive," said board member Lynda Sossamon.

"That's a long way for walkers," said board member Audrey Tritt, who suggested having the walkers merge with the parade closer to McDonald's.

During the ensuing discussion, Jamison agreed that those on foot could join the parade closer to Business 23. Community Bank and Green's Shell were places mentioned as possible starting points for the pedestrian paraders.

Parade coordinator Betty Foxx said Monday that the walkers will join the parade closer to McDonald's, but said Monday that a definite location has not been chosen.

Groups wishing to participate in the parade can still sign up to do so, she said. Forms are available at Sylva Insurance on West Main Street. For further information, call Foxx at 586-2512.

Back to Archive: 11/09/00.