A well-trodden path gives us a sense of community

Communities thrive when they are given the opportunity to participate in traditions. One popular summertime tradition is attending parades, as well as planning them, organizing them, and taking part in them. As McCurry stated in The NYC Journal, parades remind us, “of the strength found in unity and the power of coming together as one”. Humans find joy and happiness when they integrate as a group to celebrate a holiday or festivity. There are many examples of these gatherings such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Chicago Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the Mardi Gras Parade, and even some parades taking place on bodies of water (lighted boat parades) all over the world. There is no denying that these festivities bring smiles, a connection with others, and a sense of community while reinforcing our purpose as a society.

Now more than ever we are in a dire need of community closeness; untypical and unique current events have challenged humanity, as we all struggle to cope with financial difficulties, health concerns, educational strife, troubling world issues and daily circumstances. With such a heavy load of stress we look for the light at the end of the tunnel, whether it’s talking to a friend, listening to music, engaging in social events, having a glass of wine, or walking outside in nature. In fact, according to Harvard Health, it is more beneficial “to connect rather than consume” because studies suggest “that emphasizing social ties can provide definite health benefits” (2012). Parades help us interact with each other while fostering our sense of pride, sharing values, and establishing friendships. In short, parades make us feel good.

Traditions are part of every culture and come in all shapes and forms. It’s a routine that encourages collaboration, promotes harmony, and gives people a deeper association with their environment, family, and neighbors. Specifically, the tradition of a parade brings about an immense feeling of satisfaction for those that are not only partaking in it, but for those that are spectating. Anyone that has seen a parade can relate to the excitedness sparkling in a child’s eyes, to the element of surprise while witnessing a colorful float slowly approaching. Orchestrating a parade requires patience, dedication, creativity, and hard work. But the challenge is worth it; community functions provide a shared belief while giving us a supply of strength and reminding us that our diversity is what truly makes us beautifully unique.

I had suggested to Homer Township that their annual parade should take place on Will County Route 1 (WC1) because it seemed fitting to celebrate the “first” Will County Route before the jurisdictional transfer took place. (For those that are not aware of the timeline of events, Will County had proposed the “Parker Hadley Road Project” in July of 2023 which would have deeply impacted the 3.6-mile corridor. After the road project was paused in September 2023 by the Homer Township supervisor/Will County board member at the Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting, the road was eventually put into a transfer (JT) through the county and village). Presently, there was weeks of preparation for the one-of-a-kind parade, establishing the approval of the required entities, involving residents and eager participants…the idea was to represent the history of the corridor while honoring various woodland aspects of the community. Ultimately the parade on WC1 was denied by the Village of Homer Glen. The village had repeatedly rejected the parade permit for the township, as well as the Homer Glen mayor announcing her decision to decline the township’s customary usage of 151st Street. Overall, there was no cooperation in this endeavor.

Although this decision by the village is profoundly disappointing, I hope it will not hinder or obstruct any current or future community celebrations. The general public has the right to exercise their traditions and beliefs while experiencing new ones. Moreover, WC1 (Parker/Chicago Bloomington Trail/Hadley Roads) should be honored and recognized as an integral historical component to the Homer area, while including the indigenous peoples that were here long before any settlers. The “crossroads community” originally was a well-trodden trail created by the natives and their horses, traveling through a sea of lush, green trees. This is a fact that should be respected and acknowledged by the Village of Homer Glen (since they are now the new landlords of the corridor.) By recognizing the history of the area, we are upholding the earliest procession of people who faithfully carved out the path for the community.

That’s one tradition worth participating in…

McCurry, Alex. “Embracing Unity: Exploring American Traditions of Holidays, Parades, and Festivals That Foster Community Togetherness.” The NYC Journal, 25 Apr. 2024, thenycjournal.com/embracing-unity-exploring-american-traditions-of-holidays-parades-and-festivals-that-foster-community-togetherness/.

“Watch out for Unhealthy Responses to Stress.” Harvard Health, 4 Aug. 2012, www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/watch-out-for-unhealthy-responses-to-stress.