You're invited
Special Olympics Iowa is hosting a community picnic on Friday, May 23, to celebrate the summer games' 30th year at Iowa State.
The Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games return to the Iowa State campus May 22-24, marking the event's 30th year in Ames. More than 2,700 athletes will participate in bocce, cycling, developmental sports, soccer, tennis, swimming and track and field events. An estimated 3,000 volunteers -- including coaches and chaperones -- also will take part in the event.
The Lied Center, Beyer Hall, Forker Building and Iowa State Center parking lots will serve as competition venues. Hilton Coliseum will host Thursday's opening ceremonies (7 p.m., open to the public) and Friday's celebration dance for athletes, coaches and their families.
Access to some roads and parking lots will be limited or closed, including:
Road closures
- Beach Road: Closed to through traffic from Lincoln Way to Wallace Road from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday 


- South Fourth Street: Closed from Beach Avenue to just west of entrance to stadium parking lots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday 


Parking lot closures
- Beyer Hall: Lot 3, Friday (all day); open to Lot 3 24-hour Reserve or handicap permit holders
- Forker Building: Lot 50A, Thursday and Friday (all day); open to handicap permit holders
- Iowa State Center: all lots, Thursday (12:01 a.m.-5 p.m.); commuter parking will move to the football stadium parking lots for Thursday and Friday, and CyRide will be routed through lots S3-S8
- Lied Center: Lots 57 and 100, Thursday and Friday (all day); open to Lot 57 Reserve or Special Olympics permit holders
- Maple-Willow-Larch residence halls: Lots 56, 63, 89, 90 and 91, Thursday and Friday (all day); open to Lot 66 and 67 24-hour Reserve permit holders
- Richardson Court residence area: Lots 66, 67, 82, 83 and all stalls, Thursday and Friday (all day); open to Special Olympics or handicap permit holders
