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TSM-BRANDON MICHAEL
TSM-BRANDON MICHAEL
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It's finally here!  Mardi Gras has descended on us here in the Northwest corner of Louisiana and with that comes our helping heaping of fun and beads in the form of Mardi Gras floats.

This Saturday's Krewe of Centaur Parade is set to be the biggest and best yet, BUT it comes with a significant change.  This year's parade is set to roll with the much earlier start time of 3:30 pm.

With that in mind, you know you'll want to begin your activities much earlier and heed the friendly reminders that the Shreveport Police have passed along regarding this Saturday's parade.  You should find everything you need to know in the info below from Shreveport Police.

Police will close Clyde Fant Parkway from Lake Street to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway beginning at 7:00 pm Friday night before the parade. Clyde Fant Parkway will then re-open to traffic at 7:00 am on parade day so people can set up early Saturday.

Members of the public will not be allowed to set up tents or recreational vehicles nor will they be allowed to save parking spaces on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway or on the service road between Stoner Avenue and Shreveport Barksdale Highway before 7:00 am on parade day. Any stakes, flagging tape, furniture, tents, and other such items left as space markers prior to 7:00 am will be removed and discarded by police. Violators are subject to citation, tow, and removal from the parade.

Attendees planning to park towards the end of the parade route should obey all traffic and parking signs and remember not to block residential driveways. Officers will be posted at various locations along the parade route. It is vital that emergency vehicles be able to access residential streets, therefore parking ordinances will be strictly enforced. Violator’s vehicles are subject to tow at their own expense.

At 3:30 pm the Centaur parade will begin at Lake Street and travel southbound on the Clyde Fant Parkway exiting west on Shreveport Barksdale in the westbound lanes to East Kings Highway., turn southbound onto East Kings Highway and travel southbound to East Preston Avenue. They will then turn eastbound onto East Preston Avenue. Centaur will end as the last float turns onto East Preston Avenue

THE ROADS WILL NOT RE-OPEN UNTIL THE TRASH CREWS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR WORK.

 Parking:

  • Parking on East Kings Highway is reserved for permit holders only.
  • No parking is allowed before 7:00 am on parade day on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway or the Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway. No parking is allowed at all on any neutral ground and improved roadway on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway.
  • Citizens may not park in restricted areas marked with rope, cable, tape, or any other device used as a barricade.
  • No parking is allowed on Captain Shreve Drive.
  • Restricted parking allowed on residential streets from Albany Avenue to Patton Avenue. Some streets allow parking only on one side while other streets forbid parking. Look for parking signs and remember that the streets must remain clear for emergency vehicles. Violator’s vehicles are subject to tow at their own expense.
  • Handicapped parking is available at the East Kings Highway Park, also known as the “Duck Pond”, at the Veterans Memorial Park on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway and at Atlantic Avenue at East Kings Highway. A handicap parking tag or plate will be necessary to gain access.

Parade day street closures:

  • 8:30 am - Crockett Street from Spring Street to Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway.
  • 8:30 am - Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway from Lake Street to Milam Street.
  • 8:30 am - Crockett Street east at Spring Street
  • 8:30 am - Crockett Street east at Market Street
  • 8:30 am - Commerce Street south at Milam Street
  • Lake Street will open at 10:00 am then close to eastbound Spring Street at 2:00 pm
  • 2:00 pm - Stoner Avenue south to Clyde Fant Parkway
  • 2:00 pm – Stoner Avenue north to Clyde Fant Parkway
  • 2:00 pm - Clyde Fant Parkway Exit Ramp to Shreveport-Barksdale
  • 2:00 pm - Clyde Fant Parkway at Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge
  • 2:00 pm - Bossier will close the Shreveport Barksdale Bridge
  • 2:00 pm - Shreveport Barksdale from Youree Drive to Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge at
  • 2:00 pm - East Kings Highway From Shreveport-Barksdale to Preston Avenue
  • 2:00 pm - Shreveport-Barksdale Service Rd. (Flyer Dr.), Southbound & Northbound at
  • 2:00 pm - All streets along East Kings will close
  • Knight St. WILL remain open.
  • Preston Avenue exit from Clyde Fant WILL remain open until floats arrive at Preston Avenue and East Kings Highway.

Emergency Assistance:

  • Over 300 officers from the Shreveport Police Department will be working the parade. Officers will utilize patrol cruisers, horses, bicycles, motorcycles, and foot patrols to ensure public safety. Your safety is our top priority.
  • Police will utilize mounted cameras to monitor the parade route.
  • Police will have mobile command buses positioned on Stoner Avenue near Clyde Fant Parkway, in the Shreve City parking lot, in the Super One Foods parking lot on Shreveport Barksdale, and on East Kings Highway.
  • The Shreveport Fire Department will have EMS crews stationed throughout the parade route.

No Throw Areas:

  • The staging area on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway north of Lake Street
  • The railroad tracks over Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway just north of Veteran’s Memorial Park
  • Stoner Avenue bridge over Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
  • Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway exit to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway
  • The transitioning curve from Shreveport-Barksdale Highway to East Kings Highway
  • Past the ending banner on East Kings Highway and any points thereafter

Prohibited Items/Acts:

  • No glass bottles or containers are allowed on the parade route.
  • No one may cross parade barricades during the parade.
  • No animals allowed within 200 yards of the parade route, except service animals.
  • No dangerous objects or silly string.
  • No concealed carrying of a firearm.
  • 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. Violators will be arrested.
  • No public nudity will be tolerated. Violators will be arrested.
  • No ATV’s, side by side, dirt bikes, or any other motorized recreational vehicles are allowed on any public property, this includes the grassy areas along Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway and city streets. Violators will be subject to citation, arrest, and towing of the vehicle.

Safety Tips:

  • Do not leave children unattended! Designate a meeting place in the event you find yourself accidentally separated from your children or other family members/friends.
  • Do not fight or struggle over beads.
  • Keep a safe distance from the floats.
  • Leave valuables at home and secure your vehicles. Keep your keys secured.
  • Do not take purses or wallets to parades.
  • Extinguish hot coals after cooking. Do not dump hot coals on the grass.
  • Obey all traffic signs and directions from officers.

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