COMMERCE CITY & TRI COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - PLAGUE CONFRIMED IN PRAIRIE DOGS AT NUMEROUS COMMERCE CITY SITES

Per guidance of Tri-County Health Department, Colorado Rapids August 3 game to continue as scheduled, post-game fireworks have been cancelled, and parking surrounding stadium restricted.

Following recommendations from the Tri-County Health Department and the City of Commerce City, the Colorado Rapids game with Montreal Impact on Saturday, August 3 at 7PM will go ahead as scheduled. However, it has been recommended that the post-game fireworks display be cancelled due to the confirmed presence of plague-infested fleas affecting prairie dog colonies in the surrounding areas. The launch site for the fireworks display is located in an area closed down by authorities which left the club with no alternative but to cancel.

Additionally, in accordance with the Tri-County Health Department’s recommendation for the safety of all attendees, parking lots at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park will be restricted to asphalt lots until further notice.

The health department feels that these precautions will greatly minimize the risk of exposure to patrons, players, and employees and help ensure a safe experience.

At this time, the post-game fireworks display will not be rescheduled. Our highest priority is the health and safety of our fans, players, staff, and local community.

We will continue to monitor the situation in the lead up to the Rapids home game with Montreal Impact on Saturday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park.

Other sites that have been affected and have been closed including:

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is temporarily closed to public visitation as staff continue to assess the scope of impacted areas and implement the refuge’s prairie dog management plan. Additional information will be posted on the refuge’s website as it becomes available:

www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal

The Prairie Gateway Open Space in Commerce City is closed along with the fields located at the corner of E. 56 Ave. and Quebec St., and E. 56th Ave. and Valentia Street. Updates are available at Commerce City: https://www.c3gov.com/