Sinkhole reroutes Madison County Federation of Labor’s Wood River/East Alton Labor Day parade

The sinkhole that has collapsed part of Gordon Moore Park will also redirect the Saturday, Aug. 24 Labor Day Parade.

Gordon Moore Park is currently closed due to the massive sinkhole that appeared in the middle of a soccer field. It has also paused work on the Workers Memorial managed by the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, though President Dean Webb has been assured that the memorial is not considered to be in danger from the subsidence.

Ordinarily part of the Federation’s Labor Day celebrations takes place at Gordon Moore Park, but this year, things will have to be a little different.

NEW PARADE ROUTE
The parade will start at the same place: Wood River Round House. It will march south on Wood River Avenue and turn east on Ferguson, then north on 6th Street. The parade will end up at the Emerson Sports Complex on 6th Street, which is where the picnic and softball tournament will be held.

All times remain the same: parade assembly begins at 8 a.m. for step-off at 10 a.m. After the parade, all union members, families and guests are invited to enjoy the picnic with free food and refreshments provided to union members, their families and guests with a wristband provided upon request.

A free shuttle will be provided from the picnic site to the parade route and back again, Webb said.

DONATIONS
Webb said that since they had to move their celebrations, the Federation will have to pay $700 for the use of the field which is ordinarily provided for free. He asked the local leaders to please keep that in mind when approving their donations. He also noted that it is now a two-mile parade with the longer route.

TRI-CITIES SCHEDULE
The Tri-Cities Labor Day Parade and Picnic will take place on Monday, Sept. 2. That parade assembly begins at 8 a.m. in downtown Granite City on State Street between Niedrinhaus and 18th St. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. and ends at Wilson Park. Likewise, free shuttle service will be provided from the park to the parade and back again.

Anyone with questions can contact Webb at 618-259-8558.