Duke Rowing A-Z Race Day Guide

Please find below a list of disability services currently provided at Lake Wheeler Park. Prior to race day, please feel free to reach out to Lake Wheeler Park at (919) 662-5704 to help make arrangements for your visit or if you have any special needs, questions or concerns regarding our accessibility and accommodations.

Parking for Guests with Disabilities: ADA parking is limited at Lake Wheeler Park. A state-issued ADA parking placard or license plate is required for accessible parking (one car per placard). Overflow parking for guests with disabilities is available in the General Parking area, located 0.1 miles from the lake. ADA shuttles will be available to transport guests to the lake.
Accessible Seating: Accessible seating is available at the main dock. An accessible ramp connects the sidewalk to the seating area for ease of access.
Accessible Restrooms: Accessible portable restrooms will be provided on-site for guests with disabilities.

It is strictly prohibited to bring alcohol into Lake Wheeler Park. Guests found violating this policy will be subject to ejection from the facility.

Alcohol will be available for purchase at the Lake Wheeler Invite for guests 21 and older who provide valid ID. Please note that alcohol will NOT be available for purchase during the ACC Championships.

Service Animals: Service Animals must be under the control of their handler at all times, leashed or tethered unless it interferes with their tasks. They must not show aggression or disrupt the normal course of business. Service Animals should wear current rabies vaccination tags or provide proof of vaccination upon request. Violations may result in exclusion from the park.
Service Animals in Training: In North Carolina, Service Animals in Training have the same access rights as fully trained Service Animals. Trainers are liable for any damages caused. The animal must be housebroken, under control at all times, and follow all behavior guidelines established for trained Service Animals. Violations may result in exclusion from the park.
Personal Pets: Personal pets are permitted at Lake Wheeler Park. Please follow these guidelines:
- Pets must be restrained on a leash at all times while in the park.
- Owners are responsible for the behavior and care of their pets.

There are no ATMs inside Lake Wheeler Park. The nearest ATM is located at the Sunoco gas station located at 5920 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603 approximately 1.3 miles from Lake Wheeler Park.

Bags of all sizes are permitted inside Lake Wheeler Park on race day. All personal items will be inspected by event and security staff prior to entry to ensure the safety of all attendees. Please plan accordingly, as there is no on-site storage available for prohibited items.

Banners and signs are permitted inside Lake Wheeler Park. However, Duke reserves the right to prohibit or require the cessation of any display of a banner or sign that obstructs the view of other guests, obscures stadium signage, can be considered an advertisement, or is determined to be obscene, vulgar, indecent, inappropriate or derogatory.

Hand-held still cameras are welcome for personal use. However, cameras with lenses longer than four (4) inches are not allowed inside the venue.

During an Emergency

Follow the directions of the PA announcer, event staff and emergency responders during any emergency inside the park.
Designate a pre-determined location both inside and outside the park to meet friends and family in case of separation or an emergency.
Upon arrival, locate the nearest exit and an alternate exit in case of emergency.
If you observe unusual, suspicious, or concerning activity, report it to the nearest event staff or tweet @Duke_GAMEDAY.
Emergency vehicles may be present in and around the park. Do not obstruct their paths or interfere with their operations. Vehicles or objects (tables, tents, tailgate games, etc.) blocking emergency access or traffic will be removed, and vehicles are subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
Monitor the weather before the event and take precautions for severe heat or weather conditions. In the event of severe weather during the race, be prepared to evacuate to the Lake Wheeler Park main building or return to your vehicle.

First Aid/Emergency Medical Assistance

EMS will be on-site during the event. In case of emergency, contact any event staff or call Raleigh Police at (919) 996-3855.

Lake Wheeler Park will open to attendees at 7 a.m., on race day. Fans are welcome to leave and re-enter the park at any time during the event.

Accessible paths lead attendees to the main race viewing area, which is located to the left of the main building area when facing the lake.
Purses, small bags and strollers are permitted inside Lake Wheeler Park. However, all bags are subject to inspection by event staff for safety purposes.

Guests are welcome to bring outside food and non-alcoholic beverages into Lake Wheeler Park. Please help keep the park clean by disposing of trash and recyclables in the appropriate receptacles located throughout the venue.

In addition, food trucks from local businesses will be available in the parking lot above the fan viewing area, offering a variety of food and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.

Lake Wheeler Park strives to maintain a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere for all attendees. To ensure a positive experience, fans are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and courteously before, during, and after the competition.

Prohibited Behaviors:

Interfering with other guests’ ability to enjoy the game
Using or displaying foul or abusive language or gestures
Appearing intoxicated or in a diminished capacity
Entering the competition or restricted access areas
Throwing objects onto the competition area or within the venue
Engaging in disorderly conduct

Guests who observe inappropriate behavior should report it to game day staff. Violators are subject to ejection and possible arrest.

If you need assistance during the game:

Contact the nearest game day staff member
Tweet @Duke_GAMEDAY with your issue and location

If you lose or find an item in Lake Wheeler Park, please report it to the nearest event staff. Items not claimed before the end of the game can be retrieved the next business day by contacting the Duke Facilities and Game Operations office at (919) 668-5658 or emailing duaa-gameops@duke.edu.

Unclaimed items will be held for 30 days following the event. After this period, any unclaimed items will be discarded.

Race day merchandise will be available for purchase at a designated table in the park.

Parking opens at 7 a.m., on race day. For the Lake Wheeler Invite, parking is $20 per car, and carpooling is encouraged. Parking is free during the ACC Championship. Race parking is located at 6404 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Parking Rules: Vehicles parked in unmarked spaces or landscaped areas may be ticketed and towed. Please follow the directions of parking attendants.
Accessible Parking: ADA parking is limited. A state-issued ADA parking placard or license plate is required, with one (1) car permitted per placard. Overflow parking for guests with disabilities is available in the General Parking area, 0.1 miles from the lake. ADA shuttles will escort these guests to the lake.
Parking Disclaimer: Lake Wheeler Park is not responsible for any loss through fire, theft, collision, or other causes. Vehicles are parked at the owner's risk. Please lock your vehicle.
Parking Emergency Information: In case of emergency, call Raleigh Police at (919) 996-3855. If authorities are contacted, designate someone in your party to assist emergency personnel in finding the emergency location.

Driving Directions

General Parking: 6404 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603. For turn-by-turn directions, click “Open in Google Maps” on the linked page.

For the safety and experience of all fans, the following items are prohibited from entering Lake Wheeler Park:

Alcoholic beverages
Artificial noisemakers
Balloons
Cameras with lenses longer than 4 inches
All drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
Hazardous materials
Items obstructing sightlines of other guests
Laser pointers
Weapons of any kind, including pocket knives

Event staff reserve the right to deny anyone or anything from entering the park. Any prohibited items should be returned to your vehicle or discarded. All guests and items are subject to search before entering the park.

For the safety of all attendees, bags and items are not permitted to be left unattended inside Lake Wheeler Park. Unattended items will be handled as deemed appropriate by stadium officials, including possible disposal. Duke University and Duke Athletics are not responsible for the loss of any unattended items.

Portable restrooms will be available for public use in the parking lot located above the race viewing area.

All seating at Lake Wheeler Park is first-come, first-serve and is located to the left of the main building if you are facing the lake. Accessible seating is available on the deck at the main building for those with accessibility needs.

Both the Lake Wheeler Invite and ACC Championship are free events for attendees. No tickets are required to enjoy the races.

Smoking is permitted only in designated parking lots at Lake Wheeler Park.

Umbrellas are permitted inside Lake Wheeler Park. For the courtesy and safety of all fans, use caution when raising umbrellas and do not obstruct the view of other fans or staff.

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