City of Kentwood vehicles big and small to ‘parade’ through the city on July 4

Many residents were colorful in their appreciation of a parade of trucks in late May. (City of Kentwood)

By WKTV Staff

The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.”

The city did much the same as a truck tour last month in celebration of national Public Works Week. See a WKTV video of the event here.

The July 4 parade will begin at 9 a.m. on the western border of the city, near the intersection of Division Avenue and Maplelawn Street, and travel toward the eastern border the city, ending about 11 a.m. near the intersection of Burton Street and Forest Meadows Court.

A small scale map if at the bottom of this story. The full parade route and tentative timeline is available online at kentwood.us/july4. The timeline is tentative as the parading vehicles will be traveling at a faster speed on main roads and at a slower speed on residential roads, according to the city’s webpage on the event.

Residents are invited to watch the parade from the nearest street to their home on the parade route but, according to the city statement, to practice physical distancing from others when they do so.

“The City of Kentwood is pleased to be able to offer a safe, alternate way of engaging with our community on the Fourth of July,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “It is our hope to inspire joy and celebration for America’s independence by bringing the traditional parade to residents throughout the Kentwood community.”

In early June, the City of Kentwood decided to join other communities in canceling this year’s annual July 4 celebration.

“Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and restrictions on large group gatherings, the City Commission voted against hosting the event this summer out of an abundance of caution,” according to the city statement.

The fireworks show planned for July 4 has been postponed to the Kentwood Food Truck Festival this fall.