Credit: Whitemarsh Township/Facebook.com
A roar of applause filled the Whitemarsh Township municipal building as the Board of Supervisors declared through a vote that the Fourth of July Parade is back on.
On May 9, Whitemarsh Township officials announced the cancelation of the 70-year community tradition, citing funding and safety concerns.
"We heard the community loud and clear. We had a collaboration meeting with all emergency services," said Vice Chair Fran McCusker. "They came back with an enhanced security plan that they'll be working on throughout the next couple of weeks to make sure we keep our Fourth of July parade as safe as possible."
Officials said there will be enhanced security measures this year and additional steps will be taken in future years to keep the event safe for everyone.
According to reports, the township had budgeted around $28,000 for the parade, but adding safety measures, including barricades and water-filled jersey barriers, was estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in one-time fees alone.
The board apologized for the lack of transparency in the initial cancellation and said they heard the community loud and clear.
"Thank you very much for having such a civil discourse last Thursday,” Musker said. “For apology, we meant what we said about transparency, and we meant that we're going to do better.”
Residents who were disappointed in the original decision to cancel the parade created a petition to save it.
Since the decision was made and became public, a group has put together a petition to try and save the Fourth of July Parade in Whitemarsh.
"We believe there are practical, community-driven solutions to these challenges," the petition stated. "We urge Whitemarsh Township to reconsider this decision, which does not reflect the wishes of the residents. The parade is more than just an event—it represents our shared history and local pride. In a town with such deep historical roots, preserving this tradition is essential.
"While other local events that require far greater resources have received support, this low-budget event has an outsized impact on our community," the petition continued. "And let’s be real, if canceled this year, it’s unlikely to return. Traditions fade when we stop showing up for them. This one's worth saving."
Whitemarsh Township officials heard its residents loud and clear, and now the community can gather on the Nation’s birthday for its annual parade.
