Parking in Cloverdale during May 2014 Rodeo Weekend

Here's the scoop on parking around Cloverdale during the rodeo weekend May 16 - 19, 2014.

The huge parking lot at the former Cloverdale Mall is no more. The area has been fenced in for construction. There are about 100 parking spots in the area surrounding the Cloverdale Legion, the last of the old Cloverdale Mall parking lot. However the Legion is holding pancake breakfasts and barbecues all weekend and won't be too impressed if people park there and aren't coming inside to eat.

The first suggestion is to pay $10 and park at the Cloverdale fairgrounds. That gives you a close walk to the fair and the rodeo. Get there early. Last year drivers refused to believe the fairgrounds parking lot was full and kept getting into the left hand turn lane on 60th Avenue and trying to convince the lot attendant to let them in.


Also try Greenaway Park next to the fairgrounds on 60th Avenue and park there for free. The gates are locked at dusk so get back to your car by then or look for another way home.

Another choice is to park on residential streets around Cloverdale. That'll be a longer walk but parking is free. Keep an eye on the parking signs. Downtown Cloverdale is a maximum of 2 hours and there are a few no parking areas around town. The parking bylaw officers are in full force in Cloverdale this weekend. Huge payday for them because people park where they shouldn't be. The most popular parking spots are everything in-between 176A Street and 180th Street and 56A Avenue to 59th Avenue.

Cloverdale has a few free public parking lots. One is located on 56A Avenue just west of 176th Street, in the alley behind the firehall. There's about 60 parking spots here. On 176A Street just north of 57th Avenue, behind the Clova and next to the Bank of Montreal is a large parking lot. A couple hundred spots available here. A little further down 176A Street on the corner of 58A Avenue is another parking lot with about 100 or so parking spots.

On Saturday morning the streets between 176A Street and 177B Street 56A Avenue to 58A Avenue  are temporarily closed from 6am to noon for the parade participants to set up. After noon they are up for grabs the rest of the weekend. 176th Street is closed during these times because of the parade route. Tow trucks are standing near by and I always see a couple of cars being towed off this street. Not a good idea to park here the rest of the weekend anyway because its 2 hour parking.

There is a lot of street parking in residential areas west of 176th Street between 60th and 64th Avenues. The problem with this subdivision is if you're not familiar with it, it twists and turns and cul-de-sac's all over the place.

Some residents offer parking in their driveways and front lawns for a few bucks and some of the local churches also sell parking spots.

Don't even think about parking in the Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue and 176th Street. They have security guards watching all weekend. If you park and walk off the premises they'll call a tow truck. They watch real closely to make sure everyone who parks a car goes into one of the businesses there.

 

Cloverdale Rodeo May 2014

The Cloverdale Rodeo and all the events surrounding it is coming up this long weekend. The city crews have been busy spiffing up town. The lawns in the boulevards have been mowed and the hanging planters are up along 176th Street and the automatic waterers are keeping them watered.


For the past couple of days there is activity in the Cloverdale fairgrounds while midway rides and concession stands are getting set up in place.


The weekend kicks off on Thursday, May 15, 2014 with the bed races on 176A Street between 57th and 58th Avenues. It starts around 6pm. Come out and cheer on your favourite team!


On Friday, May 16, 2014, the great chili cook off is happening in the Clover Square Village on Highway 10 and 177B Street. This is from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Tasting the chili is free and often the competitors have other snacks (tortilla chips, cookies, beverages) so come out and eat enough where you don't have to cook dinner. Vote for the best chili and enjoy the music entertainment.


The fairgrounds opens at 4pm for the midway and there will be a rodeo performance that night.


Check their website for the hours of operation all weekend. http://www.cloverdalerodeo.com/


On Saturday morning the Cloverdale Rodeo parade gets underway at 10am, depending on your viewing area. The parade sets up on the side streets between 176A Street and 177B Street (roughly between 56A Avenue and 58 Avenue. The parade heads south on 177B Street to Highway 10. Half the highway is shut down during the parade. The parade goes west on Highway 10 and then turns left (north) on 176th Street. This is the most popular area for viewing the parade. Arrive early for a good spot if this is the place you want to be. The parade continues to 58A Avenue, then hangs a right (east) to 176A Street and turns left (north) back towards the fairgrounds. It kind of peters out here so don't find a viewing spot on 176A and hope to see the parade. The competitors are stopping and turning around to get back to where they parked their cars.


City workers have put up big signs on 176th Street just north of 64th Avenue and just before the Roger Pierlet Overlet overpass over the train tracks advising drivers due to the event there will be traffic tie ups. Unfortunately where they put the signs up there is really nowhere else for the drivers to go but head straight into Cloverdale and the traffic congestion. If you don't plan to attend the rodeo or go to the fair, avoid the Cloverdale fairgrounds area. Traffic is snarled. Go a few blocks out of your way and you'll save yourself lots of time.