Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Feb 12, 2009

Phone: (318) 525-5066 Fax: (318) 673-6933

Contact: Cpl Bill Goodin, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mardi Gras Parades To Roll Feb. 14 and Feb. 21

Shreveport’s largest Mardi Gras Parades, Centaur and Gemini, are all set to roll out at 4:30 p.m. on the next two Saturdays. The Shreveport Police Department would like to pass on a friendly reminder to parade goers regarding some ground rules that are in place to ensure everyone has a fun, safe Mardi Gras experience.

Police will close all of Clyde Fant Pkwy., from Lake St. to Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy., beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night. Clyde Fant Pkwy. will then re-open to traffic at 7 a.m. Saturday so people can set up early.

The public will not be allowed to set up tents and recreational vehicles or save parking spaces on Clyde Fant Pkwy. or the service road between Stoner Ave. and Shreveport Barksdale Hwy before 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. Stakes, flagging tape, furniture, tents, or other such items left as space markers before 7 a.m. Saturday morning will be removed by police and discarded. Violators will be ticketed, towed, or asked to leave.

Revelers planning to park in the Broadmoor area towards the end of the parade route should heed all parking signs and remember not to block driveways. Officers will be posted at major intersections around the parade area. It is imperative that emergency traffic be able to flow through streets, so parking ordinances will be enforced. Violators could be towed at their own expense.

The parades begin on Clyde Fant Pkwy. at Lake St. and will run along the same route as they have in previous years. They will head south on Clyde Fant Pkwy. to Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy., then travel west down Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy. to E. Kings Hwy., turning south on E. Kings Hwy. and ending at Preston Ave.

The route does include an “alcohol-free” family area that will be located on Clyde Fant Pkwy. between the railroad trestle just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park and Stoner Ave.

Absolutely NO GLASS containers or glass bottles will be allowed along the entire route. Pets, excepting service animals, are not allowed. In addition, throwing anything back at a parade float, the waving of large flags or banners along the route, or interfering with the parade in any manner will not be tolerated.

Main roadways for the parade will be closed at 3:30 p.m.

Here are other helpful tips for those attending the Mardi Gras parades:

Parking:

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

NO parking is allowed before 7 a.m. on parade day.

On Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy. and Clyde Fant Pkwy., parking is allowed behind the white lines only. Citizens cannot park where areas are clearly roped off and marked.

No parking is allowed on Captain Shreve Dr.

Restricted parking is allowed on the residential streets from Albany Ave. to Patton Ave. Some streets allow parking only on one side; other streets forbid parking. Look for parking signs and remember: the streets must remain clear for emergency vehicles. Violators could be towed.

Handicapped parking is available at the E. Kings Hwy. Park, also known as the Duck Pond and at the Veterans Memorial Park on Clyde Fant Pkwy. A handicap parking tag or plate will be necessary to gain access.

Street Closures:

At 9 a.m., Crockett St. from Market St. to Clyde Fant Pkwy. will be closed.

At 9 a.m., Clyde Fant Pkwy. from Lake Street to Milam Street will be closed.

Residents can gain access to Sci-Port until 4 p.m. using Lake Street.

At 3:30 p.m. the following streets will close:

E. Kings at Preston Ave.

E. Kings at Youree Dr.

Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy. (including the Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge)

Clyde Fant Pkwy. from Milam St. to Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy.

Clyde Fant Pkwy. between 70th Street and Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy. will remain open so as to allow access to Bossier City only

E. Preston will be closed to through-traffic at E. Kings Hwy.,

Captain Shreve Dr., Knight St., and at Clyde Fant Pkwy., once the

parades turn onto E. Kings Hwy.

Emergency Assistance:

About 300 Law Enforcement Officers from local agencies that include Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Wade Corrections will be working the parade. Officers will be in patrol cars, on foot, on bicycles, on horses and on motorcycles. Numerous vice officers will be in plain clothes to monitor underage drinking and nudity.

Police will also utilize several mounted cameras along the parade route to monitor and video crowd behavior during the parades.

Police will have command buses at Stoner Park, Shreve City and on E. Kings Highway.

Shreveport Fire Department will have EMS crews stationed throughout the parade route.

No Throw Areas:

In the staging area north of Lake St.

The railroad underpass just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Stoner Ave. bridge

The exit from Clyde Fant Pkwy. to Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy.

Past the ending banner on E. Kings Hwy. and any points thereafter

Parade Rules:

No alcohol will be allowed on Clyde Fant Pkwy. from the railroad trestle just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park to Stoner Ave. This area has been designated the alcohol-free family zone.

No glass bottles or containers will be allowed on the parade route.

No one may cross parade barricades during the parade.

No animals, excepting service animals, are allowed within 200 yards of the parade route, unless the animals are in secured yards of residents living along the parade route.

No dangerous objects or silly string.

No one may throw anything at a parade float.

Large flags or banners are not allowed within 50 feet of the parade route.

No underage possession of alcohol.

No public nudity or exposure will be tolerated.

Safety Tips:

Don’t leave children unattended! Make plans to meet up at a particular location in case children become 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 pants pockets.

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

Extinguish hot coals after cooking. Do not dump hot coals on the grass.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.shreveportla.gov