City of Cleveland Daily News Updates - #321

The City of Cleveland, its public and private partners will welcome sports fans from around the world to the shores of Lake Erie for the 2021 NFL Draft. The 86^th annual draft is Thursday, April 29 to Saturday, May 1 at First Energy Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. To help maintain safety for both residents and visitors during the highly anticipated event, the City is announcing several safety measures including road closures and parking restrictions.

View a map of the road closures/parking restrictions, prohibited items zones map, prohibited items list and board of control resolution here. These closures are subject to change, please follow the City of Cleveland Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates.

“Cleveland welcomes the 2021 NFL Draft to our city,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “Residents and visitors from around the world will experience Cleveland’s hospitality and see why our city continues to be a destination of choice for large-scale events. We look forward to working with the Cleveland Browns, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, the NFL and our other partners to execute a safe, successful event in accordance with health and safety guidelines.”

The City of Cleveland reminds residents and visitors to the downtown area of the ‘No Parking’ restrictions in place for the duration of the event. The restrictions will be in place in the following areas from Thursday, April 29 at 6:30 a.m. until Sunday, May 2 at 4 a.m.:

• East/West Border: East 12^th Street to Old River Road
• North/South Border: Chester Avenue to Lakeside Avenue

The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Division of Police also offer the following advice to improve your visit and downtown experience:

Arrive Early. Plan your commute beforehand to effectively utilize your time. Parking lots and garages downtown may fill quickly.

Practice Social Distancing. Adhere to all CDC guidelines concerning the COVID-19 pandemic including social distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding large groups.

Ride RTA. To plan a trip, go to: www.rta.com 

Put Your Junk in Your Trunk. Valuable items should not be left in the interior of a vehicle where others can see them. Place valuable items in the trunk prior to arriving at your destination or upon parking your car.

Be cautious of counterfeit tickets. The risk of reserving counterfeit tickets online from unofficial sources is high during the NFL Draft. Fans who reserve tickets from a secondary source are taking a chance. Law enforcement seeks to proactively curb such activity and encourage the public to be aware. Reserving tickets via other means creates the potential for possessing either an invalid or counterfeit ticket. The National Football League is not responsible for tickets reserved through secondary sources.

See Something, Say Something. If you see something suspicious, say something. Report any suspicious activity to safety officials. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies, 216-621-1234 for non-emergencies or report anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 216-25-CRIME.

No Drones Allowed. In accordance with Cleveland Codified Ordinance 490.03b UAS Restrictions: “No person shall launch or operate any unmanned aircraft system in any airspace within or over any area of the City of Cleveland that the Federal Aviation Administration determines to be a restricted area by way of a Notice to Airmen ( NOTAM), Temporary Flight Restriction, No Drone Zone or other means.” View the drone signage here.

Drive Safely. Be aware of increased pedestrian traffic in the downtown area. Motorists are encouraged to follow all posted signage and allow for extra travel time to reach and depart downtown venues.

About the City of Cleveland

The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life of its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.clevelandohio.gov, Twitter at @cityofcleveland, Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland, or on our blog at clecityhall.com.

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