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Madison board approves street closures for summer events including Juneteenth picnic, 5K, Regatta and parade
Summary
The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a series of resolutions allowing temporary street closures this summer for Juneteenth events, the Madison Regatta, parades and multiple community fundraisers.
The Board of Public Works and Safety of Madison approved a package of street-closing resolutions Monday allowing multiple summer events to use city streets and public space.
The approvals, taken by voice vote after each resolution title was read into the record, clear the way for the Juneteenth picnic at Lanier Mansion, a Juneteenth 5K run/walk, a Firecracker 10K, the Madison Regatta water-ball fight and balloon glow, the Hometown USA parade, the Jefferson County Youth Shelter Duck Race, Thornton’s bike show and other seasonal events.
The board read and approved the resolutions by title: Resolution 2025-23b (American Legion Way — separate agenda item), Resolution 2025-24b (Juneteenth picnic at Lanier Mansion), Resolution 2025-25b (Juneteenth 5K run/walk), Resolution 2025-26b (Firecracker 10K), Resolution 2025-27b (Madison Regatta water-ball fight), Resolution 2025-28b (Madison Regatta balloon glow), Resolution 2025-29b (Hometown USA parade), Resolution 2025-30b (Jefferson County Youth Shelter Duck Race) and Resolution 2025-31b (Thornton’s bike show). For each item the board entered a motion, a second and approved the measure by an “aye” voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.
Organizers described event footprints and safety plans during their presentations. Sue Livers, speaking on behalf of Friends of Lanier Mansion, said the Juneteenth picnic would require closing Vine Street from Second Street to the north side of the visitor center parking lot so vendors would face the interior of the site and reduce conflicts with traffic; she noted the proposed closing would be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nicholas Schafer, representing the Madison Area Run Club, summarized the Juneteenth 5K course and noted the race begins on Broadway and loops through historic neighborhoods. Schafer and other race organizers said the Firecracker 10K will follow the same course used in prior years and that they were seeking INDOT approval for closures on the Highway 7 portion of the route.
Kim Washer, representing the Regatta organizers, described the recurring firefighters’ water-ball fight and related events and said organizers were coordinating to keep that event on Main Street. Paul (identified in the meeting as fundraising committee chair for the Jefferson County Youth Shelter) outlined plans to expand the annual Duck Race into a nonprofit “extravaganza” with booths and family activities and requested closure of the street from Main to Third during the proposed 1–5 p.m. time window. Myron Barnes presented the request for Thornton’s bike show and said the event footprint will again use Bicentennial Park.
Board members and the mayor emphasized event safety and pedestrian protection. The mayor reminded organizers to address “vehicular threat” risks in their volunteer and staging plans and referenced the board’s intention to use concrete barriers in staging areas where appropriate. Organizers confirmed food trucks, vendors and other amenities would be on site for several events.
The board’s approvals are limited to street closures and event footprints as stated in the resolution titles; several items noted additional approvals or permits (for example, INDOT approval for state highway segments) remain outstanding and are the organizers’ responsibility.
Organizers and staff said they will continue coordinating with police, public works and other departments on logistics and safety details ahead of each event.
