Parking, outdoor couches, yard trash bans start in Lexington ahead of Kentucky NCAA game
Anticipating fan celebrations that have led to thrown bottles, couch fires and overturned cars in previous years, Lexington police announced street parking restrictions in party-prone areas for the Kentucky-Houston game Friday night.
Residents of State and surrounding streets also received posted notices on front doors of houses that warned of consequences for leaving furniture or trash outside on yards.
From 9 a.m. Wednesday until 4 pm. Tuesday, April 9, residents are required to remove indoor furniture from the exterior of properties and keep trash and debris, including plastic cups, bottles and other materials, cleaned up from yards. If the material is found in any part of the yards, it will be considered “an unsafe situation that must be addressed.”
If violations are found, the Division of Code Enforcement may need to abate the matter immediately, the city said in the notice. Items will be removed from the property without additional notice. Residents were encouraged to make sure everyone complies.
Lexington police spokesperson Brenna Angel said the code enforcement is done “to make sure nothing will be set on fire, quite frankly.”
“That’s happened in the past where we have seen residents maybe try to stockpile things that they may want to set on fire. That’s simply not safe,” Angel said. “We’re going to do what we can to make sure the area is as clear and safe as possible, which is why we have the no-parking in place, too.”
“The tradition has long been established, for better or worse,” she added. “We have to respond accordingly.”
Police are prohibiting parking from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday on the following streets. Vehicles parked in the areas will be towed at the owner’s expense beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.
- Limestone – Avenue of Champions to Maxwell
- Pine Street – Upper to Limestone
- Jersey Street – Euclid to Maxwell
- Maxwell – Upper to Limestone
- Transcript Avenue
- Journal Avenue
- Conn Terrace
- State Street
- University Avenue
- Elizabeth Street
- Crescent Avenue
- Scott Street (meters in front of Fire Department Station 6)
Lexington police have been working with various city agencies, including streets & roads and code enforcement, for the past couple of weeks in preparation for this weekend and potentially next weekend’s games.
The city will also be working with University of Kentucky Police, who will have extra personnel on the streets and on standby, said UK Police Chief Joe Monroe.
Monroe said a lot of non-students will take part in celebrations as well, including families and high school students.
“For those who are excited about the game and want to celebrate a win, we caution them to be responsible and respectful of the neighborhoods and respectful of people’s private properties,” Monroe said.
Angel said police will be monitoring hot spots around campus, such as the Woodland Avenue and Euclid Avenue area and State Street, as well as downtown and bars near campus.
“After the game, celebrate, but celebrate safely,” she said. “Don’t come to an area looking to start trouble.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2019 at 12:41 PM.