City to limit capacity at Fresno’s Woodward Park on Sunday. What to know before you go
.jpg "Roll-off bins block a service area at Woodward Park that was previously used as an informal parking area on Easter.")
An area that visitors to Fresno’s Woodward Park previously used for parking on Easter is blocked to vehicles this Sunday as part of an effort by officials to prevent overcrowding during the popular holiday.
In 2021, that was done due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials said. But keeping fewer than 1,400 cars in the park turned out to be a good idea going forward, according to PARCS Director Aaron Aguirre.
The gravel area is just off the park roadway, near the Rotary Amphitheater and electric car charging spaces. Park officials have placed oversize dumpsters next to the park roadway to block access.
“(It) was never intended to be for overflow,” Fresno Communications Director Sontaya Rose said Thursday when asked to comment on on the closed-off area.
A chaotic parking scene
Elaborating on that, Aguirre said visitors who drove into the now-closed area were parking in a chaotic fashion, “any which way, ” blocking one another, and generally creating traffic congestion. He said the open, gravel area is part of the service area for park vehicles.
Keeping the unpaved area clear of vehicles makes it easier for park officials to keep a running tally of how many cars are in the park, he added. When officials see there are 1,200 cars in the park , they prepare to shut down entry.
That helps keep the cars moving in park boundaries and also eases congestion on nearby Friant Road, Aguirre added.
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 7:00 AM.