THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 30, 1996 TAG: 9608300517
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 101 lines
Planning on motoring along Atlantic Avenue this weekend? Forget it.
Think you have a secret parking spot all mapped out at the Oceanfront? Think again.
The third annual American Music Festival takes center stage this weekend, and that means all the rules for vehicular traffic in the resort area have changed.
You're invited to come on down to the end-of-summer party, but don't plan on taking your car anywhere but the Pavilion.
There are nearly 10,000 parking spaces at the Oceanfront, said Henry Ruiz, the city's parking administrator.
Unfortunately, only a few hundred of those spots are anywhere near the real action, which is why folks are being encouraged to use the Pavilion for parking and take the shuttle bus for a free ride to the activities.
Once private and municipal parking lots reach 90 percent of their capacity, officials will control all access to the Oceanfront between Pacific and Atlantic avenues, Ruiz said.
Atlantic Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic the entire weekend except to people with a particular destination in mind.
Even those headed for an Atlantic Avenue restaurant or hotel will be allowed to make right turns only from access and exit points at 9th, 17th, 19th, 21st and 31st streets. All other streets connecting Atlantic and Pacific avenues will be blocked off by police.
The northbound lanes of Atlantic will be sealed off, and access and exit points will be staffed by police.
``People are not going to be able to drive down Atlantic Avenue like they want to,'' said Police Capt. Ernest F. Buzzy, who heads the Oceanfront's Second Precinct. ``If you don't have a particular place in mind, don't go. Use the shuttle service; it'll be less wear and tear on the nerves.''
Anyone who attended last year's festival knows all too well why Buzzy is so adamant.
During last year's festival it took several hours for officers to clear midday Atlantic Avenue traffic, which is why restrictions have been imposed earlier in the day this year, Buzzy said.
Directional signs for access points and parking will be set up at the end of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway at Parks Avenue.
For $5, vehicles can park at the Pavilion at 19th Street beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday through Monday. A free round-trip shuttle service will be provided starting at 10 a.m. and will take festival-goers to the main stage at 5th Street.
The last shuttle headed back to the Pavilion will leave the 5th Street stage at 7 p.m. However, other shuttles will ferry passengers back to the Pavilion between 7 and 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from the 17th Street and 24th Street stages.
Municipal parking also is available for $5 at 4th, 19th and 25th streets. Also, there are 750 metered on-street spaces and 1,700 private parking lot spots. Parking fees for private lots are determined by owners.
A 50-cent trolley service on Atlantic and Pacific avenues will be provided from noon to midnight on Friday and from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday through Monday.
Parking in residential areas is restricted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for those vehicles with a residential parking decal, visitor or business pass.
Access to the residential areas will be limited and available only to residents.
And just because you live there doesn't mean parking will be any easier.
If you're like Chris Halverson, you'll do the smart thing and either walk or catch a shuttle bus to the festivities.
Halverson plans to do what he's done the last two years - park his light blue Ford Ranger in his front yard at 19th Street and walk.
``I never drive there. It'd take an hour and a half just to get a few blocks,'' said Halverson, 28.
``I have my guaranteed parking spot right here,'' he added, pointing to two deep tire tracks that run the length of his small front yard.
As for parking and business, Preston Midgett, the general manager of Jungle Golf at 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue, says there's a real science to figuring out what to charge folks who are looking for a parking spot. Normally, Midgett charges for parking in his lot on 23rd Street and then gives customers a free pass to play miniature golf.
``What we charge depends on the lots around us,'' said Midgett, who lives in an apartment above the family-owned business.
``If we go lower, the lot will fill up and then our customers will have nowhere to park. As for me, if things get hectic, I'll park my truck in front of my garage in case I need to get out.''
Midgett's garage is connected to the Jungle Golf building, and a ``no parking'' sign is prominently displayed in front of the door. ILLUSTRATION: ON STAGE TODAY
Chuck Berry: 6 p.m.
(Fifth Street stage)
Some top hits:
``Roll Over Beethoven''
``Johnny B. Goode''
``Maybelline''
KC & the Sunshine Band: 7 p.m.
(17th Street stage)
Some top hits:
``That's the Way (I Like It)''
``Get Down Tonight''
``I'm Your Boogie Man''
MAP
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