City prepares for busy weekend

The city of Sarasota has installed new signs and updated electronic message boards to help motorists navigate downtown this weekend during the Sarasota Farmers Market and the 24th Annual Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts.

Nearly two dozen additional directional signs are being installed this week. The blue and white signs will direct motorists to public parking lots, the Palm Avenue parking garage and the Second Street parking garage. Three electronic message boards also will be placed in key areas to direct motorists.

The following streets in downtown will be closed for the two events:
• Lemon Avenue: Pineapple Avenue to First Street
- Saturday, February 18: 4 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

• State Street: Portion between Lemon Avenue Orange Avenue; portion between Lemon Avenue and Pineapple Avenue
- Saturday, February 18: 4 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

• Main Street: Orange Avenue to Central Avenue
- Saturday, February 18 at 4 a.m. until Sunday, February 19 at 8 p.m.

• Central Avenue: Main Street to First Street
- Saturday, February 18 at 4 a.m. until Sunday, February 19 at 8 p.m.

• First Street: Central Avenue to Pineapple Avenue
- Saturday, February 18 at 4 a.m. until Sunday, February 19 at 8 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to use the Palm Avenue Garage, with over 700 parking spaces, located just northeast of Main Street. To help facilitate traffic flow Saturday night, $2 pay on entry will begin at the garage at approximately 5 p.m., or shortly after, allowing parking all evening. Please retain your entry ticket until exiting the facility. Public parking will be free in the Palm Avenue Garage and throughout downtown on Sunday, February 19 and Monday, February 20 (Presidents’ Day).

For more information about public parking in downtown Sarasota visit www.SarasotaPD.org/Parking. To learn more about the roundabouts being constructed on Ringling Boulevard visit www.Sarasotagov.com and click the hard hart.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]