2004 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival
NEWS RELEASE
For more information: Ann Mort, Publicity – 513-424-2038, Rmort@cinci.rr.com
Kathy Venturella, Chamber Event Coordinator-513-422-4551,kathy@thechamberofcommerce.org www.ohiochallenge.com
For immediate release
July 15, 2004
2004 OHIO CHALLENGE TRAFFIC AND PARKING
Visitors to the Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will have an easier time at the 2004 event as they come and go. Festival planners are using suggestions made by the Middletown Police Department to make traffic flow smoother for those who attend the 2004 event.
In 2003, far more vehicles than expected entered the Smith Park site for the event. In 2004, designated parking areas and traffic routes in and out of the park are being prepared to speed the movement of large numbers of pedestrians and vehicles.
Entrance for general public vehicles to Smith Park will be via the main entrance off Tytus Avenue only. Tytus will be closed to through traffic from Reinartz Boulevard to Verity Parkway, allowing only festival traffic on that section of the street. Vehicles entering the Tytus Avenue entrance will each pay $5 for a pass that allows reentry to the park at other times, as long as parking space is available.
Vendors, sponsors, entertainers and pilots will enter by vehicle pass only through the Reinartz/Columbia entrance near the City Garage.
Pedestrians may enter via the footbridge near Reinartz and Main/Tytus near the 12th District Court of Appeals building, via the Tytus main entrance or through the Wilbraham Road entrance. No vehicles may enter through Wilbraham Road or the airport access. Vehicles will exit via Wilbraham Road and (after the launch time) through Tytus.
Handicap parking will be available on-site, however wheelchair access to the grassy entertainment and craft area may be difficult. Handicap parking is also $5.
Entrance and exit pedestrian routes will be designated to maintain a safe environment.
Volunteers will be near each entrance to assist in traffic direction, check credentials and count the number of people entering the park.
Also, throughout the weekend, random sampling will be done by volunteers who will be asking guests at the event for information on where they are from, and other questions. Answers will be used to determine the percentage of guests from local and out-of-town areas, to plan future year promotions for the event and determine the impact on the local economy.
The 2004 Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue in downtown Middletown. Take I-75, exit 32 and follow the signs to the site near Hook Field airport. Besides the twice daily hot air balloon flights, weather permitting, the festival will also include arts and crafts, the best of local festival foods, a children’s carnival, authentic Indian drum circle and dancing, a family balloon discovery center and entertainment on the outdoor stage. Grounds are open for the early morning flights with free parking and limited food service. Festival vendors and entertainment hours are Friday 4 to 10:30 pm, Saturday Noon to 10:30 pm and Sunday, Noon to 7 pm.
For more information, call 513-571-2290 or visit www.ohiochallenge.com
Here is the media map in PDF format, you must have acrobat reader to view this file.
http://mainstreetmonroe.com/pdf/media-map.pdf
Ann Mort
InTown Magazine - 513-424-2038
Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau - 513-422-3030
