Baltimore will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a parade at 2 p.m. tomorrow that will close several streets and restrict parking in the downtown area.

The parade will start at Charles and Madison streets, head south on Charles to Pratt Street, then proceed east on Pratt to Market Place.

In addition to the parade, traffic will be affected by the O'Doul's Shamrock 5K Run, which helps defray the cost of the parade.

The race begins at 1: 40 p.m. and will take runners south on Charles Street from Centre Street to Key Highway near Jackson Street and then back north to the finish line near the Power Plant.

Charles Street between Conway and Madison streets, and Centre Street at Cathedral Street will be closed at 1: 30 p.m.

At 1: 45 p.m., Pratt Street at Howard Street and South Street at Lombard Street will close.

Department of Public Works administrators suggest that drivers take Calvert Street, instead of Charles Street to get through downtown.

Kurt L. Kocher, Public Works spokesman, said detours will be posted tomorrow morning.

Parking will be prohibited from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow on Mount Vernon Place from St. Paul to Cathedral streets; on Charles Street from Madison to Pratt streets; on Market Place from Pratt to Lombard streets; on Centre Street from Cathedral to Charles streets; and on the north side of Pratt Street from Gay Street to Market Place.

Kocher said traffic-control officers will be on the streets while the restrictions are in effect.

Pub Date: 3/13/99