SIKESTON -- Parking restrictions on North Ingram during the rodeo aren't meant to inconvenience anybody, according to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, but to help people leave the rodeo safely and efficiently.
Since announcing the no-parking rule on North Ingram between Salcedo and Highway HH during the rodeo, DPS has "been getting some inquiries," said DPS Director Drew Juden.
"We've taken a good, hard look at the parking there," Juden said. He said the Sikeston Jaycees advised DPS that "there will be plenty of parking on the rodeo grounds."
One of the main factors in the decision to not allow street parking around the rodeo grounds was concerns about the safety of pedestrians, he explained.
"It's dangerous, it's dark," Juden said.
Juden said there will be a lot of motorists from out of town who may not be familiar with Sikeston's traffic patterns during rodeo week.
At the rodeo's closing time, traffic will temporarily be restricted to one way on North Ingram from the rodeo grounds southbound to Salcedo, and westbound on Salcedo to North Main.
The combination of one-way traffic and no street parking will enable traffic to move away from the rodeo area faster while being safer for the public.
Other reasons DPS decided to not allow street parking on North Ingram during the rodeo include concerns about car doors being struck by passing traffic, motorists attempting U-turns and pedestrians stepping out into traffic from between parked cars, Juden said.