Naples St. Patrick's Day parade returning after rise in security cost

NAPLES, Fla. —

The Naples St. Patrick's Day parade will return Saturday after community donations helped cover the $42,000 security costs that nearly canceled the event, preserving a 50-year tradition.

Douglas and Charlotte Walters, longtime attendees of the Naples St. Patrick's Day parade, expressed their joy about the event's return.

"It's a happy time. Everybody's in their best mood. There's no care in the world," Douglas Walters said.

The parade was initially canceled due to the high cost of security.

Kim Heaslip, president of the Naples St. Patrick Foundation, shared the community's relief at the parade's revival.

"I think it was a very disappointing couple of days when we thought, we can't do this. We can't sustain the kind of fees that we were charged," Heaslip said.

Former city council member Gary Price led efforts to gather donations from neighbors, ensuring the parade could continue for its 50th year.

"It being our 50th anniversary is really important that we were able to figure things out and have the community come together and make it happen," Heaslip said.

Last week, city council members met with police to discuss purchasing barricades for events like the parade, aiming to enhance safety and reduce security costs.

"I hope the city invests that money. I think they probably certainly have it, to ensure that people feel safe and feel comfortable leaving their homes and coming to a wonderful event like that," Charlotte Walters said.

The parade begins Saturday at 11 a.m.

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