Evanston Residents Already Claiming Spaces For 4th Of July Parade
EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) -- The North Evanston 4th of July parade is Saturday but if you want a good seat to see it, you may already be too late.
Once again this year, some people were out on the parkway lining Central Street at daybreak, armed with all manner of blankets and patio furniture, benches, baby strollers and even red and yellow tape resembling what you would find at a crime scene, cordoning off spaces in front of homes, apartment buildings, parks and businesses.
The city of Evanston even had to send out a crew to block off the spaces where the reviewing stand is located so someone else wouldn't claim it.
Call it the North Shore's version of dibs, only in the summer. It's a tradition that dates back several decades. In the 1960s, people would put out their lawn chairs several hours before the parade. But by the millennium, the jockeying for prime spaces on the curb became so intense that some would "reserve" their spaces right after Memorial Day.
Evanston's city council decided that was too much and about a decade ago enacted an ordinance that barred dibs before July 1.
Many who live on or near Central Street abide by the letter of the law -- barely. So many chairs were covering lawn in various positions that one man kiddingly asked WBBM, "When did the tornado come through? Look at all the chairs strewn everywhere!"
In addition to lawn chairs and blankets,spaces were saved with office chairs, yoga mats, tennis racquets and even a toy dump truck.
A woman named Deanne, who says the dibs 10 years ago were "ridiculous," still walked up and down the parade route to see what people are doing to save spaces. She was drawn to red-white-and-blue pinwheels entwined with red tape and a giant Christmas-themed blanket.
Tracy Poulakaidis moved to Evanston three years ago and admits she thought all the dibbing was "crazy" at first. But she's joined the crowd, and was out saving a space Wednesday with her children, Zoe and Tommy, and admits it's nice not to have to fight others for the few curbside spaces that go unclaimed, usually at street corners.
"It's so somebody doesn't take it if you don't want to set up right away," said Zoe, 5, who said otherwise she believe she wouldn't be able to see the parade.
The North Evanston parade is one of the oldest in the Chicago area, begun in 1922 by the long-gone North End Mother's Club and now overseen by the Evanston 4th of July Association. More than 140 entries are expected in this year's parade, which begins at 2 p.m. Saturday.