Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 4th of July Parade Is 1 More Victim of Quake

The Northridge earthquake has claimed yet another victim--the favored route of the annual Fourth of July parade.

The parade has traditionally taken a route between William S. Hart and Henry Mayo Newhall parks, winding north up San Fernando Road, west along Lyons Avenue, north along Orchard Village Road and east on Dalby Drive.

But transportation officials are loathe to clog San Fernando Road--the route that also serves as California 126--with marching bands, baton-twirlers, show horses and other parade entries that make it temporarily unusable as an alternate to the Golden State Freeway for southbound travelers.

“Due to the earthquake and the problems they still have with the freeways, they don’t want to block off San Fernando Road,” said Bob Martin, parade committee chairman.

For weeks after the Northridge earthquake, heavy truck traffic unable to pass on the Golden State Freeway rumbled down Lyons Avenue and San Fernando Road to reach the Antelope Valley Freeway.

To keep the alternate road clear, the parade will shift its route one block west and travel north along Walnut Street to connect with Lyons Avenue and continue on to Newhall Park. The new route bypasses much of Santa Clarita’s downtown business district.

About 100 groups and businesses have entered the parade so far, and applications are being accepted through Wednesday. Some 15,000 to 20,000 spectators are expected to watch the more than two-hour event featuring antique cars, show horses and cars representing community businesses.

“We have a lot of entries. It’s not the Rose Parade; it’s a downtown hokey kind of parade,” Martin said.

Aside from the break in tradition, organizers expect little to change.

“It’s still downtown Newhall, and Hart Park is our cornerstone anyway,” Martin said. “Most of the businesses are closed that day. The restaurants downtown might have better access (for customers) because they won’t be shut down.”

The parade is dedicated to people who helped others in the Jan. 17 temblor.

Sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, American Red Cross representatives and other emergency service personnel will be featured in several entries and Carl Goldman, owner of KBET-AM 1220, which emerged as an information powerhouse in the days after the quake, has been chosen as grand marshal.

Past marshals have been linked with the city’s Western heritage, from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to Robert Conrad and Iron Eyes Cody.