Pride Parade Re-Routed For Precious Wickets?

The wickets of West 9th Street may just be saved after all! After budget cuts led to shorter routes for parades, the Gay Pride Parade had to reroute this year's march down West 9th Street, a residential block that the likes of Uma Thurman and Barbara Bush (for now) call home. Locals were outraged, claiming the crowds would ruin their wickets and trees. And well below wicket-laded street, there are allegedly hollow vaults that used to store the city's coal—another worry was that the sidewalks weren't strong enough to withstand the crowds.

Now word is coming in that their complaints may have been heard—CityRoom reports that the NYPD are considering moving the June 27th parade back to its original route. Council member Christine Quinn spoke with the organizer, Arthur Finn, who said, “It’s very understandable that they’re concerned about their homes. The city is also concerned about police and overtime, so shortening the march is going to help preserve cops and firefighters and teachers. It’ll be a small dent.” The NYPD has not yet confirmed a change back to the old route.

So, anyone know what a wicket is yet? We've just been picturing small garden gnomes, which makes this all way more enjoyable.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on June 11, 2010 3:00 PM

Comments [rss]

mrmike

Also, that's a bike lane, not a dyke lane.

petemalachowsky

i work on w9th and this flier was put under our door. hysterical.

http://twitpic.com/1vk1fd

SP

All these obnoxious parades should just be moved to Governor's Island, including the Puerto Rican Gang Rapists Parade, the St Patrick's Green Vomit and Senseless Violence Parade, the Thanksgiving Battering Ram Stroller Moms Parade, the Halloween Asshole Yuppy Hipster Parade, etc etc.

Nathan

Re: wickets. how about using a dictionary, i bet your computer even has one pre-installed.

wicket |ˈwikit|
noun
1 (also wicket door or wicket gate) a small door or gate, esp. one beside or in a larger one.
• an opening in a door or wall, often fitted with glass or a grille and used for selling tickets or a similar purpose.
• one of the wire hoops on a croquet course.

jaycjay

And I posted yesterday, the Parks Department says this: "A tree pit guard is a device, usually a cast-iron fence or wrought-iron wickets, installed around a tree pit for protection."

virgilstarkwell

at last - a group in the village more powerful than the gays: the west 9th st. block association!

EastRiver

Why don't you send someone over to West 9th Street and have them take a picture?

jaycjay

These days, no need to even get off the couch to get a picture:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=35+west+9th+street+nyc&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=35+W+9th+St,+New+York,+10011&gl=us&ei=x4wSTOjJEIaglAeW7uHbBw&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=40.733248,-73.996842&spn=0.000588,0.00107&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=40.733248,-73.996842&panoid=kU9oPEU9ZLPqIwFtLgrD0A&cbp=12,309.23,,1,9.51