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Pictures To Help Neighborhood Groups Make Point About Parade Problems

Photo by JOHN L. JONES

During Saturday's parade, South Tampa residents captured images of people passed out to help bolster their case.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

Published: February 9, 2009

TAMPA - Residents of neighborhoods surrounding Bayshore Boulevard say they love a parade as much as anybody.

What some don't enjoy is a prevalence of inappropriate public behavior – underage drinking, urinating in public and open sexuality – during the Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

During last Saturday's parade, residents in the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, Hyde Park Preservation, Bayshore Gardens Neighborhood Association and Channel District captured what they saw with digital cameras and cell phones.

They plan to bring their visual aides to an upcoming meeting with city officials and event planners.

"We didn't discover anything people don't already know," said Jack Wyatt, a board member of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association.

Wyatt, who worked at the St. John's Episcopal Church Safe House, a place for young people to go when they've had too much to drink, said he sent three girls to the hospital in ambulances Saturday.

"We weren't looking for a witch hunt," he said of the neighborhood associations' efforts. "We're only trying to make the parade better for everyone."

Wyatt attributes much of the commotion surrounding parade to a lack of sufficient adult presence. Wyatt said his association didn't think increased police patrols were the answer as "the cops were plentiful."

As the neighbors gather and process their information, he said, they hope a solution will surface.

Darrell Stefany, whose EventFest company produces the festival, said he will address the issue in an annual post-parade follow-up.

"It ultimately comes back to personal responsibility, parents for their kids and adults acting responsibly," Stefany said.

"It's a great event," he said. "Unfortunately there are a few who take it to the extreme."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

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