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Westborough readies downtown for 250th celebration; police detail, road blocks and messaging planned
Summary
Select Board heard plans for the town's June 26, 2026 250th celebration at Bay State Commons, including a 9:15 p.m. fireworks finale and a police operational plan that calls for heavy staffing, hard block-offs of streets, odd/even parking enforcement, and Code Red and social-media notifications to manage pedestrian safety and traffic.
Members of the Westborough 250th Anniversary Committee updated the Select Board on final event plans, and police staff described an operational plan focused on pedestrian safety, street hard-blocks, and traffic routing for the downtown celebration.
Roberta Sullivan, speaking for the 250th committee, said the event on Friday, June 26, 2026 will open at 5:30 p.m. at Bay State Commons and include a Declaration of Independence reading, a march by VFW 9013, historical portrayals and family activities, and a fireworks finale at 9:15 p.m. "We appreciate the continued support of the select board and look forward to sharing additional updates," Sullivan said.
Police Chief Todd Minardi and Lieutenant Cliff Loose laid out logistics and safety measures. Minardi said the department had called in extra staff and expected roughly three-quarters of the force to work the event. Lieutenant Loose described planned hard block-offs on Union Street and Brigham, designated food-truck areas, detail officers assigned to garage access points, and post-fireworks egress routing to reduce rotary congestion. "We're going to set up cones with no parking on it as well just to assist people," he said.
The department will push repeated reminders via social media, a Code Red notification, and posted signage; Minardi said private lots are not encouraged for public use unless property owners consent. Board members asked that the even-side parking rule and Code Red wording be made clear in messaging and noted DPW and fire coordination for emergency access.
The board and speakers emphasized patience and courtesy to public-safety staff during the event. No vote or action beyond informational coordination was required.
