Details for the March For Our Lives Parkland 2

March for Our Lives – Courtesy of the GoFundMe Page.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

With the March For Our Lives planned for Washington D.C. and other cities, it became clear to the City of Parkland the march in their city would be a massive, regional-size event.

Initially, the March For Our Lives in Parkland was a small, high school student event with a limited impact on the city, its facilities, personnel, traffic, and budget. During this stage, it required small-scale safety measures due to expected crowds and it was believed that other Broward County cities would have similar marches of their own on the same day.

By the first weekend in March, it had spread via social media to a large-scale regional size event far beyond what would fit in any Parkland park, requiring resources of personnel and equipment that the city did not have.

Parkland city administration met with Broward County government, various policing agencies, and student representatives to discuss details including numerous road closures within the city limits to accommodate both the march route and traffic. Also, Broward County Public Schools’ busses will be used to shuttle participants from regional parks which cannot accommodate the number of vehicles expected for this event.

To help a city of 30,000 residents pay for such a large-scale event, Everytown, an organization to end gun violence, is providing a $150,000 bond. which will be used to help cover costs like policing and portable restrooms.

In a special meeting held last Monday, the Parkland City Commission approved the permits for the march. Bryan Mai, a junior, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and a Parkland march committee leader said he was extremely happy with the unanimous vote from the commission. “I hope we can get a lot of publicity. People are really hyped up for this march.”

Details for the March For Our Lives Parkland 3

Mai said the march wasn’t any one particular person’s idea. “It was a given,” he said. “Because there was a march in D.C., and with everything that happened in Parkland, it would only be right that we had a march.”

The Parkland March For Our Lives begins at 10 a.m., but the actual march begins at noon. Those in attendance will walk down Pine Island Road to Marjory Stoneman Douglas and then back again.

“We’re hoping for a lot [of people}. We know from the vigil there was somewhere from 5,000-8,000 people and we’re hoping for more,” said Mai.

The city of Parkland is estimating between 15,000 – 40,000 people.

May said the money they are currently raising in their GoFundMe will be going towards the march, and whatever they don’t use will go into the official school student fund.

Event Information and Updates

March 24, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (actual march is at noon) beginning at Pine Trails Park, 10555 Trails End Boulevard, Parkland.

Important

No bags or backpacks
Food trucks will be on-site
Absolutely no golf carts permitted on public streets, sidewalks, swales, parks, etc.
Stay hydrated
Be prepared for a 2-mile march
If you cannot walk two miles, do not attempt
Use sunblock
Wear comfortable shoes
There will be an ADA section at the event site to accommodate mobility-impaired individuals
There will be an ASL interpreter

Parking and Shuttle Services

Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs.

Limited parking for Parkland residents only at the Parkland Equestrian Center.

Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs.

Out-of-Town Bus Drop-Off Area
Exit Sawgrass Expressway on Coral Ridge Drive (Exit 14)
North on Coral Ridge Drive (turns into Nob Hill Road)
Turn east (right) on Trails End Boulevard to the drop-off area
or Proceed to Heron Heights Elementary School

Free shuttle service will be provided to and from the event
Shuttles will begin at 7:00am
Last shuttle to the event will depart at 10:00am
Post-event shuttles can be picked-up at pre-event drop-off location

Park-and-shuttle locations

Lockhart Stadium, 1350 Northwest 55th Street, Fort Lauderdale
CLICK HERE to view Lockhart Stadium.

Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton
Parking Lots: 1, 2, 4, 5, 27, and 28
Parking Garages: 1, 2, and 3
CLICK HERE to view the FAU Parking Lot Map

Limited parking for Parkland residents only at the Parkland Equestrian Center

Out-of-Town Bus Drop-Off Area

Exit Sawgrass Expressway on Coral Ridge Drive (Exit 14)
North on Coral Ridge Drive (turns into Nob Hill Road)
Turn east (right) on Trails End Boulevard to drop-off area
or Proceed to Heron Heights Elementary School

Parent Drop-Off (Uber and Lyft)

Trails End Boulevard east of Pine Trails Park Entrance (MUST ENTER FROM THE EAST)

The March Route
The march route is approximately two miles.
CLICK HERE to view the March route map.

Road Closures

Road closures are expected to begin at 6 a.m. on March 24, 2018.

Pine Island Road from Westview Drive to Nob Hill Road
Trails End Boulevard from Pine Island Road to just east of Pine Trails Park
Holmberg Road from the Westglades Middle School roundabout to just east of Pine Island Road

North Community Park in Coral Springs will be open to recreational activities only. Event parking will not be permitted. The Coral Springs Drive entrance to the park will be closed. The park can be accessed from the Westview Drive entrance.