Fr. Larry Parking Coordination

11/13/2022

Council: 114 - BANGOR

Project Description:

Nov 7-10, the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish welcomed Fr. Larry Richards a national speaker to our parish to present the mission. We averaged 500 attendees a night and it was coordinated by Brother Doug Guerrette. Doug asked Brother Jason Lyons and Brother EJ Hikel to coordinate parking for the four nights. At first we were trying to lock in approval to use larger parking lots in the area and rent/borrow shuttle vans and help coordinate the park. Jason and EJ discussed with Brother Bob Welch, retired Bangor PD and he recommended we could coordinate efficient parking in the lot, on the street and walkable neighboring lots and eliminate the shuttle. Jason and EJ spent a couple hours working with local neighbors and designing a map to help the parking attendees. Eleven Knights volunteer to help with parking but we only needed six per knight, so Brothers did not have to work every night, but Brother Tim Achorn, Brother Walter Shannon and Brother Kris Clark volunteered all four nights. It was dark so with Flashlight in hand and wearing a reflective vest the knights helped with a very organized parking routine. Brother Walter Shannon also found a way for us to borrow cones and Brother EJ Hikel was able to get some saw horse barricades for us to borrow from the local hospital. Having parking attendees made it easier to help coordinate handicap parking as well as maximize spaces. It also helped drivers slow down for pedestrians. Finally a couple nights would also help at the end of the event just to be sure everyone was able to exit in an orderly fashion and be available for any issues.