Drivers heading through Pickering's civic core this weekend will need to plan around a string of temporary traffic controls, as the city closes a section of The Esplanade South for the Chariot Fest event in Esplanade Park.
According to a City of Pickering notice, The Esplanade South will be closed from Valley Farm Road to the outbound driveway of the Pickering Civic Complex parking lot on Saturday, July 18, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The closure coincides with Chariot Fest, which runs in Esplanade Park that day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the broader event window listed as 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to cover setup and teardown.
What's changing
The city says temporary parking restrictions will be in effect on both sides of Esplanade North while the event is underway. Motorists who normally park along that stretch should expect no-parking conditions through the day and into the evening.
Temporary accessible parking will be set up on a portion of the north side of Diefenbaker Court on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors who hold accessible parking permits are being directed to that area while regular lots and on-street spaces near the park are tied up with event activity.
Getting to the event
Esplanade Park sits next to the Pickering Civic Complex, meaning residents with business at City Hall, the Central Library or other nearby facilities should expect heavier traffic and reduced parking availability in the area for most of Saturday. Anyone travelling through the neighbourhood is advised to allow extra time or consider alternate routes.
The city has posted a service announcement and location map outlining the closures for residents who want to check exactly which stretches are affected.
Who to contact
Questions about the temporary traffic controls can be directed to Nathan Emery, Coordinator of Traffic Programs and Operations with Engineering Services, at 905-420-4660, extension 2054, or by email at nemery@pickering.ca. A service disruption line is also available at 1-866-278-9993.
Chariot Fest runs Saturday, July 18 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Esplanade Park. The road closure on The Esplanade South begins two hours earlier at 7 a.m., with the full event window, including setup and takedown, running until 9 p.m.
