Pottstown gears up for the Rumble

POTTSTOWN — The borough is gearing up to host the Pottstown Volleyball Rumble, the largest grass volleyball tournament east of the Mississippi, closing Memorial Park facilities to make room for the rumble and offering free shuttle bus service around the borough Saturday.

According to Pottstown Borough Manager Mark Flanders, the Bark Park dog walking park and the parking area by the Trilogy Park BMX track will be closed through Sunday, June 23.

Erica Weekley, assistant borough manager, reports that the free Pottstown Rumble Shuttle will run from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

Stops will include the transit center; several stops along High Street, including Evans, Washington and Keim streets; the Days Inn, Memorial Park, the Comfort Inn and Sly Fox Brewery in the Circle of Progress.

“The shuttle is part of the borough’s efforts to support big events which draw people to Pottstown and to help circulate those visitors through Pottstown to see the town and not just the rumble,” Weekley said.

That’s not all the bus system is doing these days either.

On Thursday, PART will join public transportation systems nationwide in the “National Dump the Pump Day,” when people are encouraged to use public transportation and leave their cars at home, Weekley said.

Begun in 2006, when gas prices topped $3 per gallon, “Dump the Pump” day “emphasizes public transportation as a travel option that also helps people live more sustainable lives,” Weekley wrote in a release sent to The Mercury.

“We see this as a way to get PART’s name out there is a viable means of getting around Pottstown and that shuttle, and the Dump the Pump efforts, are part of the borough’s efforts to market PART more effectively to both visitors and residents of Pottstown,” Weekley said.

PART is getting a better idea of its ridership as the result of surveys given out on Earth Day, when people were invited to ride PART buses for free.

According to some of the results Weekley provided, 87 people responded 55 percent of those reported being weekly riders; and the most popular routes are those that go to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, to Upland Square and to the Coventry Mall.

Nearly 100 percent reported being satisfied with on-time arrival, and only 8 percent reporting being unsatisfied with the fare.

Follow Evan Brandt on Twitter @PottstownNews

At right, the Pottstown Rumble has grown to the biggest grass volleyball tournament in the rnited ptates. Players compete on courts set up in Memorial Park.

Photos by John ptrickler/ The Mercury At left, Andrey Belov serves an ace during open division play at last year’s Rumblee. Belov, of Leningrad, is the top server for aces.