Philadelphia Finalizes Parade Plans To Honor Its Hometown Little League Heroes
By Mark Abrams and Diana Rocco
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Parade plans are now firmed up for a salute to Philadelphia's Little League team, the Taney Dragons.
And the city is encouraging everyone to come out and congratulate the youngsters on their success.
Even though they didn't go all the way, Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison says the Taney players and coaches deserve to be saluted for the work that got them to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Gillison says the few critics who have raised eyebrows about a parade for the team really are missing the point.
"They won our hearts and minds," Gillison said today, "and as long as they're first in our hearts and minds, we're always going to tell and show our kids that this is what we truly believe. We believe in you, we support you, and we want to celebrate you when you do well. And we're going to get that done."
Two of the Taney Dragons, Jack Rice and Jared Sprague Lott, are working out the nerves ahead of Wednesday's party, when once again all eyes will be on them.
"I knew we had a chance, but I didn't really think we were going to get this far," Jared Sprague Lott said.
"It's a great memory to have," Jack Rice said.
For these two players the experience has been overwhelming. First the Little League World Series, and then a big welcome home at City Hall, now a parade.
"I'm excited for the parade," Jack said.
"It's going to show how much support we've gotten through this long journey," Jared said. "I wished I was in a parade, but I never thought it would really come true."
The parade gets underway at 2 p.m. Wednesday at 20th and Market Streets, goes down to City Hall and then south on Broad Street, with a stop at the Kimmel Center, where the Philly Pops will salute the team with some classical favorites.
Then, it's on to Washington Avenue at Broad, where the Mummers will entertain them Philly-style.
KYW Newsradio 1060 will have live updates from the parade route and the lastest on traffic detours.
The celebration winds up at FDR Park, with special recognition ceremonies.
You can watch a live stream of the parade right here on CBSPhilly.com beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
On Wednesday night, the team also will be fêted by the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Here is a map of the parade route:
SEPTA detours for the parade:
Beginning at 1:30pm, SEPTA Bus Routes 17, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 124 and 125 will be detoured from their normal Eastbound routings on Market Street between 20th Street and City Hall. The detours will remain in effect on these lines until the parade turns onto South Broad Street.
Beginning at 2:00 pm, SEPTA Bus Routes 4, 16, and 27 will be detoured from their normal routings on South Broad Street. These detours will remain in effect until the parade has cleared South Broad Street. Specific route detour information is available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org
Surface travel delays through Center City should be anticipated. Travelers may want to consider using subway travel on the Broad Street Line or Market-Frankford Lines. Peak schedules on both lines provide train service every 4 to 7 minutes. Starting at 6:08 p.m., three Broad Street Line "Sports Express" service trains are scheduled to operate from Fern Rock Station to AT&T Station for the 7:05 Phillies Game. If needed due to capacity, additional express trains will be dispatched between Walnut-Locust and AT&T Stations.
Passengers can receive up-to-date transit information by visiting www.septa.org, calling 215-580-7800, on social media @septa_social and by downloading the free SEPTA Apps available for Apple and Android devices.