Tuesday, April 8, 2008
An excited mood swept over Lawrence as preparations began for the big game.
As the basketball players warmed up, coaching staff went over strategies and fans prepared to cheer, Lawrence Police, Lawrence Parks and Recreation and University officials said, win or lose, they were prepared for a potentially chaotic night.
Sergeant Paul Fellers of the Lawrence Police Department said police would be sticking to the plan that had been prepared with a few minor changes. Fellers said “fans should be commended” for a relatively incident-free celebration after the Final Four victory on Saturday. The number of officers downtown was scheduled to increase from less than 200 on Saturday to more than 200 on Monday night.
Ten other police departments and sheriff’s departments provided officers for the big night.
Fellers said they did not plan to close Massachusetts Street to traffic, but would have barricades ready “should it be determined we cannot have traffic for the safety of the celebrators.”
Fellers said the department’s preparations stressed spreading the word about safety and asking for “voluntary compliance” to rules including no fireworks and no glass bottles or cans.
However, people still set off fireworks and littered the streets with empty cans Saturday night.
Mark Hecker, park superintendent for Lawrence Parks and Recreation, said he readied his staff for the aftermath downtown by having crews clean the streets before, during and after the game. He said another shift followed Tuesday at about 6 or 7 a.m. The crew includes 35 to 40 people and three street sweepers. Hecker said he anticipated the morning shift would take about three hours to complete.
“It’s our job to try to make it look like there wasn’t a party there,” Hecker said Monday afternoon. “It’s a lot of work, but we all still want KU to win.”
The Parks and Recreation team’s preparation also included emptying trash barrels in advance and preparing its fleet of backpack leaf blowers and heavy brooms.
But not all of the game-watching was to occur downtown. Staff at Allen Fieldhouse prepared for an open-to-the-public watch party by cleaning up the mess left by Saturday’s watch party. Assistant athletics director for events Bill Dickerson expected 7,000 excited fans.
With safety issues a major campus concern, Margretta de Vries, senior administrative associate with Parking and Transit, said Safe Ride services would be increased to Friday or Saturday night capacities of seven to ten cars.
The University also prohibited parking on Jayhawk Boulevard for the night and planned to have most buildings locked by 7 p.m. as well as all libraries closed by 10 p.m.
“What everyone’s interested in is celebrating a national championship without endangering others,” Fellers said.
—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
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