The ACU Police Department is working on a plan that will help visitors for Sing Song adapt to the loss of more than 300 parking spaces on campus.

ACUPD is putting all officers on duty to help direct traffic and lead drivers to proper parking areas on campus.

“There’s no perfect solution to it, but we’re going to make it work, we do every year,” said ACUPD Lt. Randy Motz.

The north side parking area, or the Big Purple parking lot by Edwards Hall, is the closest lot to Moody but is also obstructed by the soccer/track stadium construction.

One of the major obstacles is the closure of Oliver Jackson Boulevard which runs from Ambler into the Big Purple lot. This leaves only one entrance and exit for the lot.

Anticipating the traffic, ACUPD has already addressed ways to navigate the issue with its officers.

“We have a plan,” Motz said. “We have officers in place to help people in and out of Big Purple (parking lot) safely, but it’ll be slower, and it’ll be a challenge.”

Sing Song isn’t the only event taking place this weekend. The Department of Theatre will also present their production of The Marvelous Wonderettes, and there will be a number of athletics events including baseball and softball games.

But Motz is no stranger to big-event traffic.

“We’ve been real fortunate (in the past); we have enough people on duty and enough traffic control, and as long as people are patient and not in a hurry, we’ve done well,” Motz said. “The biggest thing we might have is just people being frustrated because they’re going to come to their usual route and they’re going to find out that route no longer exists. Things look a little different on that part of campus now.”

A lot of the people coming in town to see Sing Song will be families of the students.

“My parents sort of expected not to have the easiest time parking last year, so I don’t think they’ll be surprised this year,” said Ross DeJarnatt, junior biochemistry from Jackson, Tennessee.

During Sing Song weekend, ACUPD will not be checking for parking stickers. However, to get to Moody it will most likely involve some walking. If drivers plan to show up early, they should expect a far less stressful parking experience.