City wants Family Friendly St. Pat's

Pittsburgh police will once again team up with Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board agents to crack down on those who may “party” too much during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday. Last year the city upped patrols along the route and in Market Square with the hopes of making the event more family friendly. In years past, some had complained that the drinking had gotten out of control and they no longer felt it was an event to which they wanted to bring their children. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Raventahl says those efforts last year resulted in alcohol related arrests jumping from 35 St Patrick’s Day 2007 to more than 100 last year. Police will add an additional 12 police officers and another 5 PLCB officers bringing the total police presence downtown to 115. Fencing will be erected along a portion of the parade route and Market Square will be cordoned off from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Open containers will be allowed in Market Square during those hours. People entering Market Square must have their bags checked and will be charged $1 to enter. People older than 21 will be given a hand stamp and wristband. Police expect the party to move to the south side later in the day where additional offers will be on patrol once again. The parade steps off from Mellon Arena at 10:00 a.m. and runs through town to the reviewing stand near the Steelworkers building on Stanwix. The parade usually last about 3.5 hours. Parade Chairman Jim Green says on good years the parade draws a quarter of a million people but if the weather is bad attendance dips to just more than 100,000. Organizers boast that the parade is the second largest in the nation behind New York.