Starkville police launch weekend managed access in Cotton District

STARKVILLE, Mississippi — The Starkville Police Department said it will begin operating a managed access area in the Cotton District on weekend nights in an effort to improve public safety in the popular entertainment district.

The controlled area will operate Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., police said. Under the new guidelines, visitors entering the area must present a valid ID, be at least 18 years old and obtain a wristband at one of four designated entry points.

Police said backpacks, outside beverages, masks and face coverings will not be permitted inside the managed area. An additional entry point may be opened as needed depending on crowd size and traffic conditions, the department said.

The department also announced temporary traffic adjustments connected to the managed access area. Drivers traveling west toward University Drive from Barr Avenue and Camp Avenue will be able to use alternate routes to bypass the Cotton District, and motorists traveling north on Colonel Muldrow Drive will be redirected east toward Barr Avenue and Camp Avenue. Police released a traffic map detailing routes, closures and entry locations associated with the new operation.

Managed access measures are commonly used in entertainment districts to control entry, reduce crowding and enhance officer visibility during peak hours. The department said the program will continue for the foreseeable future. We will provide more information as it becomes available.