(DENVER) The City and County of Denver announced Monday details of the public viewing area/demonstration zone to be available on the final day of the Democratic National Convention – Thursday, August 28, 2008 – for the general public to express views within sight and sound of delegates entering Invesco Field at Mile High, where Senator Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech. The Thursday Designated Parade Route – which was announced last week – will provide access to the public viewing area.
PUBLIC VIEWING AREA/DEMONSTRATION ZONE: Thursday, August 28
The public viewing area will be an approximately 53,000 square foot area located in Lot J on the north side of Invesco Field at Mile High, within sight and sound of the delegates arriving and entering the facility. It will be open to all members of the public, whether they choose to participate in any of the marches or not. All activities within the public demonstration zone remain subject to local, state and federal laws.
Individuals in this area are entitled by existing Denver city ordinance to utilize bullhorns. Additionally - as provided at the Pepsi Center public viewing area - a stage/riser and amplification system (ie: speakers and microphone) will be provided inside the area, with at least two speakers located outside the public demonstration area and pointed at the delegate entrance/exit pathway.
PARADE ROUTE: Thursday, August 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As an expression of support for the rights of people to express their views safely and in a manner that respects the rights of others along with local, state and federal laws, the City and County of Denver announced in February its intention to provide a Designated Parade Route and waive its standard fees, making it available free-of-charge to groups wishing to conduct parades during the week of the Convention. A Designated Parade Route will be available all four days of the Convention (August 25-28, 2008) between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Monday through Wednesday, the route will go from Civic Center Park and access the public viewing area in Lot A of the Pepsi Center.
On Thursday, August 28, requesting groups will be able to gather on Mariposa Street between 12th and 13th Avenues at 10:00 a.m. Since parking options are limited, those participating in the parades are encouraged to use public transportation or other alternatives to get to the staging area.
The Designated Parade Route to Invesco Field at Mile High will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the intersection of Mariposa Street and 13th Avenue and proceed northbound to Colfax Avenue. The route will continue west on the westbound lanes of Colfax Avenue from Mariposa Street to Federal Boulevard. The route will continue on northbound Federal Boulevard from Colfax Avenue to 19th Avenue. From there, individuals and groups wishing to continue to the public viewing area can proceed east on 19th Avenue to Mile High Stadium Circle, where they can proceed north to 20th Avenue which leads directly into the public viewing area in Lot J. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the public viewing area will be available via Clay Street from Mile High Stadium Circle.
Southbound Federal Boulevard – and one lane of northbound Federal Blvd. - will remain open during the parade. As is standard safety protocol for parade routes, prominent signage designating the route and traffic management/safety personnel along the route will be provided.
Businesses along the parade route – and their customers – will have access both before and after the 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. parades. The City will work with businesses and residents in the area to provide access during the parade as well.
Parade-Related Street Impacts and Recommended Routes:
· Colfax Ave. will remain open during morning rush hour, but will be closed from Mariposa Street to Federal Blvd. beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 28 until the Convention program concludes at Invesco on Thursday night. Westbound Colfax will be detoured to Kalamath Street. Eastbound Colfax will be detoured at southbound Federal Blvd.
· One northbound Federal Boulevard traffic lane – from Colfax Avenue to 20th Avenue – will close at 9 a.m. and reopen at 3 p.m.. One northbound lane of Federal Boulevard – and all of southbound Federal Blvd. - will remain open throughout the parade.
· 19th Avenue and 20th Avenue – from Federal Boulevard to Mile High Stadium Circle – will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. on Thursday through the conclusion of Thursday night’s activities. Mile High Stadium Circle will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday as well. The 2000 block of Clay Street will be open to local vehicular traffic only; no through-traffic will be allowed at Clay and 20th Avenue.
Details of additional transportation impacts for Thursday, August 28th are still being finalized and will be announced in the near future, but City officials underscore that downtown will be accessible and that inconveniences to local residents, employees and businesses will be minimized.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) plans to run normal bus service during the Democratic National Convention, adjusting routes impacted by street closures. Passengers may experience some delays due to these detours. RTD will provide information on these adjustments through its web site, the RTD Telephone Information Center, and information posted on buses and light rail. Any transit impacts related to the Invesco Field event on Thursday, August 28, will be announced once those details are finalized.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES:
The City continues to work with law enforcement officials to finalize plans regarding mobility and access on Thursday, August 28, 2008. As with all other aspects of the Convention, the City of Denver’s intention remains to minimize any impacts on roadways, businesses and residents. More details about access and mobility around the Thursday, August 28th event at Invesco Field at Mile High will be available in the near future.
Targeted outreach to residents and businesses in the aforementioned areas began last week. That outreach includes the following informational session scheduled for residents and businesses near Invesco Field at Mile High:
- Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Denver Human Services, 1200 Federal Blvd. (Enter on east side of building and check with security to be escorted to room 3110)
Ongoing updates will be disseminated widely and made available through a variety of sources, including www.DenverGov.org , www.DowntownDenver.com , www.DenverConvention2008.com , 3-1-1 and more.
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