Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Feb. 13, 2001

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

City prepares for Mardi Gras parades

As thousands of people flock to the routes of this year’s two Mardi Gras parades, public safety will be among the highest priorities. Both parades begin at 4 p.m. at Pierre Bossier Mall. They run along Airline Drive, turn onto Barksdale Boulevard, cross the Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge into Shreveport and turn onto East Kings Highway. The parade ends on Kings at Preston Avenue.

Residents can make the event more enjoyable by listening to instructions given by parade officials, abiding by the city’s laws and being respectful of one another. Here are some things that citizens might like to know before heading to the parades.

Parking:

* Parking on East Kings Highway is reserved parking for permit holders only.

* Handicapped parking is available in Shreveport at East Kings Highway Park, also known as the Duck Pond, at the corner of Kings and Atlantic. In Bossier City

handicapped parking will be at the Super One parking lot on Airline Drive.

Handicapped parking stickers or plates are required.

* Parking is allowed behind the white lines only. Lines will be marked along the route.

* No parking is allowed on Captain Shreve Drive.

* No parking is allowed on Shreveport-Barksdale’s median, street or shoulder. Parking on private property along the service roads is at the discretion of property owners.

* Parking will begin at 7 a.m. on parade day.

* No double parking will be allowed on the side streets off East Kings Highway. This

includes Albany, Albert, Ardmore, Adger and Fremont streets. This rule will be

strictly enforced.

Street closings:

The following streets will close at 3 p.m. on both parade days:

* East Kings Highway at Preston

* East Kings Highway at Youree

* Shreveport-Barksdale Highway

* Entrance and exit ramps to and from Clyde Fant Parkway in Shreveport.

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* Barksdale Highway in Bossier City

* Airline Drive from East Texas to McDade.

* Preston will be closed to through traffic at Captain Shreve and at Knight Street. This

area will be open to emergency traffic only.

Parade rules

* All floats in the parade must have skirts or have escorts walking alongside the floats.

* Alcohol breath tests will be run on each driver at the beginning of the parade

and again on the parade route. Random checks may also occur. Any driver that fails the test will not be allowed to drive and may be prosecuted.

* All beverages must be in plastic containers. No glass is allowed.

* Laws regarding consumption of alcohol by minors will be strictly enforced. Juveniles

caught drinking alcohol will be taken into custody, charged and detained until their

parents arrive.

No Throw Zones

* Pierre-Bossier Mall between mall parking lot and mall entrance. Throwing will begin

on Airline Drive.

* Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge.

* The turn from Shreveport Barksdale Highway onto East Kings Highway.

* After the banner that marks the end of the parade.

Emergency assistance

* Command centers will be located at the AmSouth parking lot on Knight Street in

Shreveport and at the Bank One parking lot at Airline and Old Minden Road in Bossier

City for anyone needing help..

* Medic units, fire engines and police officers will be stationed at locations along the parade route.

* More than 100 law enforcement officers from local agencies that include Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office and Wade Correctional Center will

be working the parade. Officers will be in patrol cars, on foot, on bicycles, on

horses and on motorcycles.

Safety tips

* Don’t leave children unattended. Make plans to meet up at a particular location in case

the children are separated from guardians during the parade.

* Do not fight or struggle over beads. Thousands of beads are thrown, so be polite and

respectful for others trying to catch them.

* Keep a safe distance from the floats.

* Keep valuables at home, and make sure cars are securely locked.

* Don’t take purses or wallets to parades. Keep money and other items in front pants

pocket.

* Clean up after yourself. City workers will clean the parade route, but doing your part

will help a lot.

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