Early birds to catch Provo parade

Three women and a girl from Orem had no idea about the new ordinances when they put their blanket down on Center Street around 1:15 p.m., but they said they were just doing what they did every year. Residents along the street, however, were more than happy with the new changes. Larry and Janet Peer have lived along Center Street for 14 years.

"Tens and thousands of people come outhere and walk up and down the sidewalks and watch the parade," Larry Peer said. "And the vast majority of them are respectful and friendly and decent and all like that."

Janet Peer said that in the past, people have broken trees, urinated by their house and even camped out on their lawn for three or four days, making watering troublesome.

"Everyone asks to use the restroom," she said, adding that she just points them down the street to the portable toilets. The city, though, is very good about taking care of the residents along the parade route, she said.

"The city bends over backwards for the people that live here," she said. "The minute the parade's over, they pick up the porta-potties, they pick up the garbage, and then they sweep the streets and clean out the gutters. And in three or four hours you would never know that there had been a parade."

Provo resident Juan Ruiz Jr., who owns a Web development company along University Avenue, had about six or seven folding chairs and a sleeping bag covering his domain at the northeast corner of 200 N. University Ave.

"I do the initial scope, reserve duties, and they get the rest," he said about his family, who was going to join him later in the day. His spot is unique, he said, because he has a bathroom and a microwave just upstairs in his office.

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E-mail: jdavis@desnews.com