Concert-goers attending shows at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center will soon be required to park in Darien Lake’s free on-site lots, the venue announced today (Thursday, July 26) in a press release. The park’s management organization is taking this step to ensure the safety of its guests.

“Pedestrian access to the Performing Arts Center will be restricted to passenger drop-off at a designated area near the main gate,” the press release says. The change will take effect on August 17, affecting five shows before the end of the 2012 concert season.

“We offer more than enough parking to accommodate park visitors, overnight guests, and a sell-out crowd at the Performing Arts Center,” Darien Lake General Manager Bob Montgomery said in the press release. “In our work with Live Nation, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, and New York State Police, we’ve determined that allowing pedestrian access to concerts increases risk to those walking along the roadway, increases traffic jams before and after concerts, and increases the incidence of excessive pre- and post-show alcohol consumption.”

Earlier this summer, a concert-goer died after being struck by a minivan while walking to a non-affiliated parking lot.

The venue will build a fence along Sumner Road (County Road 21) to help enforce the new policy, according to the press release. When the change takes effect on August 17, all concert attendees will  be require to enter by vehicle at Darien Lake’s main entrance. The park will continue its free parking policy for concert-goers.

“Darien Lake was built to handle an influx and outflow of traffic,” Montgomery said in the press release. “With less traffic coming onto side roads from offsite parking, we believe this new policy may ultimately result in smoother traffic flow.”

More From The New 96.1 WTSS