Gulf Coast Carnival Association donates barricades to city

The Gulf Coast Carnival Association today donated $5,000 worth of pedestrian barricades to the City of Biloxi during a ceremony in front of The Guice Agency on Lameuse Street, typically a busy street on the Biloxi parade route on Mardi Gras Day.

The donation means that Biloxi will now have barricades at all high traffic areas on its 2 1/2-mile parade route, and enough barricades to cover about half of the entire route.

During the ceremony, Mayor A.J. Holloway and Police Chief Bruce Dunagan told representatives of Gulf Coast Carnival Association that the 66 new barricades will compliment the 1,700 barricades used each year for Mardi Gras and special events in Biloxi and other cities.

Holloway said as many as 150,000 paradegoers may view the three parades in downtown Biloxi on Mardi Gras Day.

“That’s a lot of people in a relatively small area,” the mayor said. “These barricades will play an indispensable role in helping to maintain a safe environment during carnival season, and the city thanks Gulf Coast Carnival for this generous and extremely useful gift.â€

Each of the durable, galvanized steel barricades are eight feet long, nearly four feet tall and weigh 63 pounds. The 66 barricades cover about 528 feet, and will interlock with the city’s existing barricades.

“Thanks to Gulf Coast Carnival and cooperation of our neighboring communities, we’ve reached a milestone,” Dunagan said. “We’re at the halfway point in our goal to cover the entire parade route in Biloxi, and we’ll also be able to use these barricades for special events throughout the year.”

Said Walter Williams of Gulf Coast Carnival: “Mayor Holloway and the City of Biloxi support the Gulf Coast Carnival Association in many ways, including the restoration of the Dantzler House, which will be the new home of Biloxi’s Mardi Gras Museum. The donation of these barricades is a simple way to show our gratitude, and, of course, help make Mardi Gras safer and more enjoyable for everyone.â€

Gulf Coast Carnival Association contact: Reed Guice, The Guice Agency, 228-435-0400.

To learn more about Mardi Gras in Biloxi and on the Gulf Coast, click here.