WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Allegro Cyclery Cyclo-cross Race will be held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Rooks Park on Sunday, Oct. 26, according to Corps officials at Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake.
The first of many races begins at 9 a.m., and the last race starts at 2:50 p.m. Although Rooks Park will be open to walk-in visitor traffic, about 75 percent of the area will be occupied for race activities under a special-use permit. Rooks Park Road will also be very crowded with bike racers parking along the road. The races will also travel along the Mill Creek Diversion Dike and cross over portions of the paved Mill Creek Trail.
Rooks Park closed to vehicle traffic on Oct. 15, and restroom facilities and drinking fountains were winterized. Visitors are still able to enter the park using pedestrian routes on the paved trail and near the park’s main entrance, but access during the race will be controlled by event officials who will let visitors cross the race routes when it is safe to do so between cyclists. Race organizers noted that visitors are welcome to come watch the races for free. Portable restrooms will be provided by event organizers. Additional parking and restrooms are available at the Mill Creek Project office.
“This is the sixth year this that organizers have asked to have their event on Corps-managed lands around the park, creek and lake,” said Chris Alford, acting Mill Creek operations project manager. “In past years, more than 100 cyclists from all over the northwest have participated. And, it’s really exciting to watch.”
For information about the Corps' Mill Creek Dam, Bennington Lake and Rooks Park, call (509) 527-7160, find them on the Web at www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/MillCreekDamandBenningtonLake.aspx or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/millcreekdam.
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Release no. 14-081