NATCHITOCHES – Construction on a new parking lot for nearby Prather Coliseum at Northwestern State is altering track and field fan and team parking for LHSAA regional track and field championships Wednesday and Thursday at NSU's Walter P. Ledet Track Complex..
 
The Ledet Complex on Leon Johnson Lane is just west of the Prather parking lot. Fans will need to utilize nearby alternate parking locations and be prepared to walk for as much as 300 yards to reach the gate and ticket booth, located at the west end of the NSU soccer/softball parking lot.
 
The entirety of the parking lot, which encircles Prather Coliseum and also provides parking for tennis, track and field, baseball and softball home events, has been uprooted for needed improvements to the area, replacing a 50-year-old lot.
 
Signs approaching the Ledet Complex will help direct patrons to parking areas. Visitors may get an overview of the parking options at www.nsudemons.com/parking
 
Here are some primary areas where fans may park Wednesday and Thursday:

• In the softball/soccer lot south of the track complex (limited capacity and handicapped access).
• In the parking lots at the southwest and west sides of Turpin Stadium (football field), traditionally a popular location overlooking the Ledet Complex
• In the parking lots past the right field fence and scoreboard for the Lady Demon Diamond softball complex, south of the track complex, along Organizational Drive (Greek Row, across Caspari Street from the west side of Prather Coliseum)
• In the parking lots alongside Prather Coliseum on the east and west sides; access is available only at the southeast and southwest entrances

 
Signage indicates "no parking zones" for grassy areas alongside streets near the athletic complex, including in front of the adjoining Lady Demon Diamond softball complex. Those will be enforced as necessary by campus police, including potential towing of violators to assure safety for pedestrians.
 
Team bus parking instructions differ for the two meets:
 
For the Region 1-5A meet Wednesday, the first bus parking option is in the Organizational Drive lot across Caspari Street from the west side of Prather Coliseum. Overflow parking for team buses should utilize the same plan used for Thursday's competition.
 
For the Region 1-2A meet Thursday, all team buses should drop off athletes at Leon Johnson Lane outside the Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.
 
Buses should park in the lot west of Kyser Hall (165 Sam Sibley Drive) on campus. From the dropoff location, buses drive north past Turpin Stadium's west side, take a left at the street light in the middle of campus, and Kyser Hall is the four-story building about 150 yards on the right. The parking lot is a left turn located about 600 yards northwest of the track complex.
 
GPS setting for the lot is 31 degrees, 44 feet, 59 inches north, and 93 degrees, 5 feet and 60 inches west.