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Excessive heat delays, cancels outdoor events in North Texas due to safety

Excessive heat delays, cancels outdoor events in North Texas due to safety

The near-record temperatures across North Texas are forcing the organizers of some outdoor events to either delay or outright cancel the events because of safety concerns.

Scorching temperatures across the metroplex prompted the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat warning Thursday continuing at least through Saturday.

With highs over 105 and heat indexes over 110, the extreme heat is a top concern for those in charge of putting on various outdoor events this weekend.

Megan Gordon with the city of Irving says she decided to delay the start of Friday’s outdoor movie night at Heritage Park out of concern for the safety of attendees.

“As the event planner, I thought about it three days ago. But we always try our best to accommodate rather than cancel,” she said. “The event was originally planned for 6:30 p.m. As soon as we saw that heat advisory coming our way, we said let’s push it back when the sun sets a little bit so move it to 8 p.m.”

Typically, crowds can get up to 350. It was much smaller Friday.

Mom Sheniece Perkins admits she had second thoughts when she arrived.

“It’s for the kids, so I got to suck it up. They run around in the heat all of the time,” she said.

But families in Carrollton aren’t so lucky. The city announced Friday that this week’s Christmas in July event downtown would be canceled with no plans to reschedule.

“It’s probably a bummer for whatever kids were looking forward to it,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on coming, but I think it’s kind of sad for the community, but I can understand why. Safety.”

RELATED: Summer heatwave will test Texas power grid’s capacity, experts say

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Mid-South preparing for 4th of July events

Mid-South preparing for 4th of July events

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Germantown will have a Firework Extravaganza on July fourth starting at 5 p.m at the Municipal Park.

The Fireworks show will begin at 9:10 p. m.

There will be live entertainment crafts and food.

There will be a few road closures.

Parts of Exeter Road will close at 2 that afternoon, and parts of Farmington Boulevard and Neshoba Road will close at 5 p.m.

The City of Memphis and Memphis Parks plan to put on the Bluff City’s largest fireworks festival on Sunday, July 3rd.

The free event at Liberty Park will feature food, live music, kids’ games, and of course fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Festivities kick off at 5 p. m. with the fireworks show beginning at 9 p. m.

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Completion date announced for Memphis Sports and Events Center at Liberty Park

Completion date announced for Memphis Sports and Events Center at Liberty Park

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A one-of-a-kind sporting facility in Memphis’ Liberty Park now has a completion date.

The Memphis Sporting and Event Center is part of the multi-million dollar facelift to the historic fairgrounds.

Action News 5 got a behind-the-scenes look at the construction. The site was once the home to the Mid-South Fair. Now, it will be home to various festivals and events.

The construction zone sitting there now will soon be the new home to a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment development known as Liberty Park.

The revitalization plans for the historic fairgrounds have been in the works for nearly a decade. Those plans are now reality as the foundation for the Memphis Sports and Events Center is in place and steel beams are up.

Project Manager Andre Nowell says it’s the biggest project he’s been a part of.

“The largest piece of steel that I’ve seen,” said Nowell. The largest crane that I’ve seen. Once we’re all done, I think we’re projecting 100,000 man hours.”

The city’s division of Housing and Community Development says the 227,000 square-foot facility will focus on indoor youth and amateur sports.

Building the space has not been done without challenges. Nowell says pandemic supply chain issues caused material delays, but the design team worked to find solutions.

Mary Clair Borys, manager of with the city’s development division says the sports and events center will have two venues for hosting multiple sports tournaments at the same time.

“This is a project that has been a dream of leaders of Memphis for a long time,” said Borys.

It will also have courts for basketball and volleyball, and a 75,000 square-foot events pavilion to host trade shows, sporting events, graduations, and more.

“This is going to be a game-changer for the Memphis economy,” said Borys.

Construction remains on time and on schedule. The facility is expected to be complete in October.

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