DELAND, Fla. — The city of DeLand is implementing new security measures that can be quickly deployed to restrict vehicle access to the downtown area. 

What You Need To Know

  • On Monday, DeLand city commissioners approved the purchase of barriers designed to secure event perimeters with the goal of enhancing public safety at community gatherings

  • The move comes after high profile incidents including the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans

  • The city will pay $600,000 to buy 40 meridian defense barriers that can be easily deployed to restrict vehicle access to special events in the downtown DeLand district

  • The barriers are expected to be in place later this year in time for the fall/winter event season

On Monday, DeLand city commissioners approved the purchase of barriers designed to secure event perimeters with the goal of enhancing public safety at community gatherings.

“Staff has been looking at ways to increase our security around our special events, because we have a lot of them downtown throughout the year," said Chris Graham, DeLand's community information manager. "We have one this weekend, DeLandapalooza. So, we always have something going on and so we’re always focused on the safety of our residents."

The move comes after high-profile incidents, including a New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans.

The city will pay $600,000 to buy 40 meridian defense barriers that can be easily deployed to restrict vehicle access to special events in the downtown DeLand district. 

“I think this would be a great way for us to mobilize quickly," Graham said. "And allows us to take the barriers down quickly as well, just because of the equipment that we have."

Downtown DeLand is home to small businesses, shops and restaurants. The city is known for hosting more than 60 festivals and special events annually, some of which attract large crowds. 

“It’s the biggest, smallest downtown you’ll ever be in," said Chicas Cuban Cafe's operations manager Joseph Johnson. "Everybody knows everybody as far as, you know, chatting with other shop owners. There’s just an absolutely great network of the downtown business owners here. And we love our visitors. That’s what really thrives. It pushes our economy here in this wonderful city of DeLand."

Chicas Cuban Cafe has been a part of the DeLand community for six years, and Johnson said he appreciates the added layer of security that the new barriers will bring. 

“I think it is a great addition to keep the visitors and the residents safe of DeLand," Johnson said. "These events do get rather large, and I think that any sense of order is a good sense of order."

The city had already updated its security protocols, and officials say the barriers will help increase what is already in place. The barriers are expected to be in place later this year in time for the fall/winter event season.

The commission also gave city staff approval to seek bids on bollards that would be added to East and West Indiana Avenue for special events when the roads are closed to vehicular traffic. 

The city is also looking at extending the footprint of bollards that are in place on West Georgia Avenue for special events like the weekly Artisan Alley Farmer’s Market.