Updated at 4:30 p.m. on June 2, 2016
Thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators are expected on Penn State’s University Park campus Thursday through Saturday for the 47th Annual Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Summer Games.
The university’s transportation services issued parking and traffic information for the three-day event, and urged motorists touse caution and allow extra time to reach their destinations while driving on campus this weekend.
Athlete arrival and opening ceremonies
Athletes, coaches and support staff will be checking in at Beaver Stadium then moving into the South and Pollock residence halls between 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday. Check-in will result in heavy traffic on Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road and drivers are urged to avoid the area during that time.
Mifflin and McKean Roads will be restricted to bus and Special Olympics traffic during this time as well.
Opening ceremonies will be held at Pegula Ice Arena (moved from Medlar Field due to weather forecast) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Parade of Athletes has been canceled, also due to weather. Athletes, coaches and support staff will be transported to and from the opening ceremonies by bus, with drop-off and pick-up along Curtin Road near Shields Building. This will require the closure of Curtin Road between Bigler Road and University Drive from approximately 5:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday evening.
During this time, all vehicles exiting the Yellow H parking areas at the Shields, Wagner and IM buildings will be directed west on Curtin Road towards Bigler Road. Permit holders arriving on campus during this time who normally park in these areas are directed to park at the section of Yellow H at Pegula, the Orange B lot near the Nittany Lion Softball Park, or at the East Parking Deck on Bigler Road.
As a result of this closure, the following changes to campus transit service will be in effect:
- There will be no service to Campus Shuttle stops 2 (IM Building), 3 (East Halls), and 4 (Commuter Building) between 5:30 and 6 p.m. this evening.
- There will be no CATA bus service to the stops at McCoy Natatorium, Shields Building, IM Building, and East Halls between 5:30 and 10 p.m. this evening. A courtesy stop will be added at the corner of Bigler Road and Curtin Road.
The following traffic and parking restrictions will be in place Thursday afternoon and evening:
- All exiting traffic on Pollock Road between Burrowes Road and Shortlidge Road will be required to travel west on Pollock to Burrowes from approximately 4:15 through 7 p.m.
- Mifflin and McKean roads will be restricted to buses only from approximately 4:15 through 7 p.m.
- Approximately 200 parking spaces in the southwest corner of the Stadium West parking lot will be blocked all day on Thursday.
- Closing ceremonies will be held on Saturday afternoon, and both Mifflin and McKean roads will again be impacted by bus traffic as participants move out of the South and Pollock residence hall areas.
Parking
Spectator and volunteer parking for the Special Olympics will be available at the following areas this weekend:
- Lot 44 — located east of the Bryce Jordan Center
- Stadium West — located west of Beaver Stadium
- Lot 83 East — located along Porter Road, south of the outdoor track
- Those attending or volunteering at track and field events are encouraged to park at Lot 83 East.
- Parking for coaches, athletes and support staff will be available at Lot 81, located in the South and Pollock residence hall areas
Transit
Penn State is encouraging spectators and volunteers to walk or us available transit services to travel between event venues.
The Blue Loop bus service will be available each day from 4:45 a.m.-10 p.m.
A special venue shuttle will operate from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. The shuttle will provide transportation to and from:
- South/Pollock residence areas (from McKean Road near Redifer Commons)
- Outdoor track
- Ag Arena
- Softball Park (from the Katz Building parking lot)
- IM Building (from Curtin Road)
- Natatorium (from Curtin Road near East Halls)
Map of Special Olympics Event Areas
