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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 161-09
April 8, 2009

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND COMMISSIONER SADIK-KHAN ANNOUNCE NEW ROUTE FOR 2009 MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

Marks the Sixth Route Change for the Historic Parade

Wider Route will Allow for More Parade Watchers, More Economic Activity

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced that the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take a new route through Midtown Manhattan, using 7th Avenue through Times Square and along 6th Avenue to Herald Square.  The existing route followed Broadway south of 59th Street to Herald Square.  The new route marks the sixth time the parade route has been changed since its inception in 1924.  Developed by a working group including City agencies and Macy's, the new route will accommodate the pilot congestion reduction program on Broadway and the wider route will provide more space for the parade's procession and enhance viewing space for the millions of spectators who fill the streets and sidewalks along the route to watch the parade and its floats.

"The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a New York City institution and part of its storied history has been making changes to make it an even grander event," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "With more space available, the new route will be better for parade watchers, who come from New York and from all over the world, and better for the businesses that benefit from the activity generated by the parade.  We expect this year's parade to be bigger and better than ever before."

The 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will follow Central Park West from its starting point at 77th street, turn east on Central Park South, then proceed downtown on 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The parade will then turn east on 42nd Street, then proceed downtown on 6th Avenue to Macy's flagship store at 34th Street in Herald Square. At Herald Square, the parade will continue one block west on 34th Street before terminating at 7th Avenue. Both 6th and 7th Avenues have more street and sidewalk space than Broadway. Following the 2009 parade, the parade route will be determined considering the results of the Broadway congestion reduction pilot and a review of the performance of this year's parade route.

"The route has changed with the times but the parade has always continued to be one of New York's most beloved celebrations," said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. "The new route will greatly expand the viewing space from what are literally the best front-row seats for the parade: the sidewalks of Manhattan."

"While we bid a fond farewell to our Broadway parade route, everyone at Macy's looks forward to this exciting new era in parade history," said Robin Hall, Executive Producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Our new route on 7th Avenue and the Avenue of Americas creates many new opportunities for the millions who view it live and will create a new feeling of scale and a sense of place for the parade's national television audience. We thank Mayor Bloomberg and DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan, who have proved to be such great partners for the Macy's Parade. We look forward to working with the city in the coming months on this important transition."

"We are extremely grateful that this year's parade will continue to pass through Times Square, allowing both the parade and the exciting and innovative Broadway plaza plan to go forward without a hitch," said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance.

The original parade started at 145th Street and Convent Avenue, with five changes before reaching the current 77th Street and Central Park West starting point.

Former Thanksgiving Day Parade Route  2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route






MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Marc La Vorgna   (212) 788-2958

Seth Solomonow   (Department of Transportation)
(212) 442-7033

Elina Kazan (Macy's)   (212) 494-4624




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