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Changes made to Rattlesnake Round-Up |
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Written by Tatiana Rodriguez
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Thursday, 11 March 2010 |
Sweetwater is home to the World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up. People from different cities, states and countries travel to Sweetwater every year for the grand event, bringing a weekend of fun and excitement for the entire community. Along with the good, comes a few problems for the city. "Traffic associated with Round-Up weekend has always been a problem, said Sweetwater Police Chief Jim Kelley. "In 2009, however, traffic on that Saturday was backed up past Avenue C on Lamar and as far east as the old Sonic. This is not acceptable. The traffic situation is affecting the whole town, thus affecting the general safety of the travelling public."
City officials, Round-Up coordinators and emergency personnel felt the need to come up with better ways to allow traffic to move more smoothly during the Round-Up. "We think having more parking would ease the traffic problem. We want to funnel traffic away from the Coliseum and make it safer for all those coming to enjoy the event."
Groups associated with coordinating the Rattlesnake Round-Up include the Sweetwater Jaycees, the Lions Club, the Nolan County Sheriff's Posse, Nolan County Coliseum personnel, along with others. All groups had members present at several meetings taking place after the 2009 Rattlesnake Round-Up to come up with ways to make Sweetwater a safer place for everyone during Round-Up weekend. Also involved in the planning are the Sweetwater Police Department and the Sweetwater Fire Department, who know first hand the dangers associated with the traffic during the Rattlesnake Round-Up.
"These meetings have been great. We have brought together all the clubs involved in the Round-Up weekend. All of us working together have come up with some good ideas which we hope will allow Round-Ups in the future to be better. We hope to eliminate some of the hassles to allow for a safer, easier weekend," stated Kelley.
One major change that will be implemented will be parking and traffic flow through the Nolan County Coliseum parking lot. Vendors will be moved from the outside area, just outside of the indoor flea market, to the first parking curb, closest to the Coliseum. The vendors will be facing the Coliseum and the entire area in front of them will be a walkway only. There will be no parking and no through traffic allowed in that area.
Directly behind the vendors will be handicap parking only. Through traffic will be allowed in that lane, along with the Jaycees bus, shuttles and emergency vehicles.
In the third lane will be parking on the north curb only. This parking will be on a first come, first serve basis. This will also be the only lane that will allow through traffic as well as the Jaycees bus, shuttles and emergency personnel.
Also, there will be no parking along the side of the baseball park next to the Coliseum Annex. This will be a walkway only. There will be one way traffic only on Cypress and Pecan Streets. Signs will be put up to indicate directions.
Round-Up coordinators also hope to eliminate extra vehicles at Newman Park during the cook-off portion of the Round-Up by reserving the parking lot by the tank for cook teams. Team members will be given car stickers and those without the authorized stickers will be asked to leave the parking lot.
Another major change will be made to the parking area under the covered shed behind the Coliseum, usually reserved for Sweetwater Jaycees parking. Jaycees may still park, but are encouraged to leave the east lane open for ambulance, police and handicap vehicles.
Another big change will be that the carnival has now moved from its regular location to the land on the north east property of the coliseum, directly across from ADM Feeds. The change of location is expected to lesson the safety hazards and traffic concerns. The county commissioners have cleaned the lot and carnival representatives have visited the site and have approved the location. The carnival entrance is on FM 419. There will also be a walkway entrance to the carnival through Newman Park. The space that used to house the carnival will now add much needed parking by the Coliseum. Motorists may enter the parking lot from Cypress and Pecan Streets, not just by entering through Elm Street.
"We just want to make the Round-Up better, smoother and safer for everyone and we ask that everyone please cooperate," stated Chief Kelley.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 March 2010 )
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