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CITY STREETS CLOSING

October 25, 2008 12:16 am

City streets surrounding Hurkamp Park will be closed early Monday because of the noon rally for Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The closings will begin at 7 a.m., when most streets within about two blocks of Hurkamp Park will be closed, Fredericksburg City Manager Phillip Rodenberg said.

Part of Charles Street will be blocked starting at 11 a.m.

Amelia and Hanover streets will be open to through traffic.

Those attending the rally can enter Hurkamp Park at 10 a.m., and Rodenberg said city officials are anticipating that others will fill the streets and sidewalks around the park.

Secret Service and state and local police will be monitoring the crowd.

Fredericksburg Public Works Director Doug Fawcett said downtown visitors and rally-goers will be allowed into the closed street areas on foot, but cars will not be permitted after 7 a.m.

FREDericksburg Regional Transit will be providing additional service Monday because of the rally. The routes and times will remain the same, but the number of buses will be increased.

Campaign officials for the Alaska governor have not said how many they expect to attend the rally, but Rodenberg said the park's capacity is about 6,000. That's more, he said, than other venues such as the Fredericksburg Expo Center, which holds 2,400.

Rodenberg added that the city had received multiple questions as to why the rally isn't being held at Maury Stadium. He said school policy prohibits political events, so it made more sense to host the rally in a public park.

There's no chance of the rally moving to another venue, Rodenberg said.

Fredericksburg residents can expect to see campaign officials setting up in Hurkamp Park starting today, but most of the work will be done tomorrow, Rodenberg said.

Fawcett said shoppers at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market will still be able to visit Saturday, but the market will be closed Monday for the rally. Rescue calls are run from city fire stations during the day, so the rescue squad stationed next to the park will not be inconvenienced.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com