Police are asking drivers to be patient today as a crowd of more than 30,000 people is expected to attend Sparks in the Park at Four States Fairgrounds.
Texarkana, Ark., Police Department urges drivers to pay attention to officers directing traffic and to expect heavy traffic with possible delays after 8:30 p.m.
"Please follow all traffic commands and be patient,"said Cpl. Kristi Bennett, TAPD spokeswoman. All traffic laws and parking will be strictly enforced and no one will be allowed to illegally park vehicles on city streets or nearby roadways, she added.
Bennett said it is important that drivers pay attention to the officers around the new roadway configuration used to access and exit Four States Fairgrounds-where gates are set to open at 4 p.m. for a plethora of all-day entertainment and activities for children prior to the annual fireworks show that should begin by 9:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after dark. Opening ceremonies are slated for 6 p.m., followed by live music just before the fireworks display.
Speed limits on Four States Fair Parkway have been reduced and police recommend attendees leave as early as possible for festivities to make sure they arrive in time, Bennett said.
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How to get there
Vehicles are given specific ways to enter the fairgrounds parking area from two directions. From Interstate 30, drivers can take Parkway Drive to U of A Way and then take either Fair Park Road or continue on U of A Way to Clay Pit Road, leading to East 50th street and into the main parking lot. Drivers coming from the south should take Arkansas Boulevard to the Frontage Road/Parkway Drive north, then onto East 46th Street around the main parking lot.
"No traffic will be allowed to enter on 50th Street," Bennett said. "Any traffic bypassing one of these entrances will be re-routed back in line to one of these two entrances.
Any traffic passing through on Four States (Parkway) will be required to turn onto East 50th (Street) to Sanderson Lane. No traffic will be allowed to pass through on Four States Parkway to Arkansas Boulevard or I-30."
Once patrons have entered parking areas at the fairgrounds, there will be personnel directing vehicles on where to park.
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How to get out
Bennett said those attempting to exit the main north parking lot can take Fair Park Road before taking a left on U of A Way to get to Parkway Drive. All traffic there must turn north on Parkway Drive, she said.
Another way to exit the main north lot is by taking E. 46th Street to Parkway Drive.
"All exiting traffic entering Parkway Drive must turn south on Parkway Drive, then south to Arkansas Boulevard, where drivers can turn east or west bound, or enter Interstate-49," Bennett said.
Those that arrived later and parked inside the fence line must leave by way of the west gate of the fairgrounds onto 50th Street, she said, where they will be directed west to Sanderson Lane.
"East 50th (Street) will remain a one-way, west bound street after the fireworks show," Bennett said.
Bennett said illegally-parked vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense, and any cars parked improperly inside the park area might be blocked in by other vehicles and not be able to exit until the end of the event.
"TAPD encourages everyone not to park in the park area and to use the designated parking areas only," Bennett said.nat