NYPD Orders Recession Related Parade Cutbacks: Gay Parade and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to be Impacted

All NYC parades will be cut by 25% and restricted to 5 hours in a $3.1M money-saving move, reports NYC's Daily News.

The Daily News continues:

The NYPD ordered parade organizers across the city Monday to shorten their traditional routes by 25% and to keep their marches to under five hours.

The stunning move, backed by Mayor Bloomberg, will mean major changes for some of the city's biggest and best-known celebrations - the West Indian Day and Puerto Rican Day parades, and the Gay Pride March.

All three usually last longer than five hours. But even the ones that start and end in fewer than five - like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - will have to adhere to the shorten-your-route edict.

The order goes into effect April 1, meaning next month's St. Patrick's Day Parade - which Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly will lead as grand marshal - will not be affected this year.