WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — West Palm Beach officials said Friday they are taking "immediate measures" to increase public safety and security at the downtown GreenMarket beginning Saturday.
Police held a Friday morning news conference at the Centennial Fountain to lay out the details.
"Recent events in New Orleans indicate what we already know," West Palm Beach interim Police Chief Tony Araujo said. "You can be well-postured. You can be secure, and things (can still) happen."
Beginning at 5 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday, vehicular traffic will be prohibited on the following streets in the area surrounding the GreenMarket:
- North and South Flagler Drive between Banyan Boulevard and Datura Street
- South Dixie Highway (U.S. Highway 1) from just south of Banyan Boulevard and Datura Street
- North and South Olive Avenue from just south of Banyan Boulevard and Datura Street
- North and South Narcissus Avenue from just south of Banyan Boulevard and Datura Street
"We have to close these roads because if you've been to the GreenMarket and the Flea Market, you can see it's such an open space. You have pedestrian traffic that's going all over the place," Araujo said. "You actually have traffic ways that go through the space, so from a security perspective that's not best practice. We were talking about that long before (the New Year's Day terrorist attack) in New Orleans."
WATCH BELOW: Police outline enhanced security at West Palm Beach GreenMarket
The interim chief said market visitors can also expect some additional "hard points" around the venue like additional officers.
"The city of West Palm Beach is very well-postured with technology and other resources that provide a safe environment for our citizens," Araujo said.
Araujo stated that the changes were not due to any new information received, but rather because the department is actively assessing whether their safety plan aligns with the current national and regional security posture.
"The community is safe," Araujo said. "Don't be alarmed. We're just doing this because we're prudent."
Police said the enhanced security will not affect off-street parking in the downtown area.
Free parking during market hours will remain in the City Center, Clematis and Sapodilla garages (now 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) The Banyan and Evernia garages will remain $5 for an all-day rate.
Only the Banyan Boulevard entrances to the two garages will be open. Access to South Dixie Highway will be closed.
The Clematis Street Garage, located just west of Quadrille Boulevard, is not affected by the enhanced security.
The city is also extending the GreenMarket's hours to 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additionally, the market will add an extra day in the spring and will conclude for the season on Saturday, April 26.
The extra security comes after a deadly terrorist attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans where 14 people were killed by a Texas man driving a speeding truck on Bourbon Street.
