WESTFIELD – After celebrating Independence Day at Stanley Park for several years, local motorists may have become accustomed to the Fourth of July traffic pattern in the area of the park, which will be the same this year with only one adjustment planned.
Lt. Larry Valliere, the commander of the department’s Traffic and Safety Bureau, reports that normal two way traffic will continue on Western Avenue before the display but, as in previous years, Lloyds Hill (and its intersection with Mountain View Road) will be closed at 6 p.m. to avoid traffic snarls on Western Avenue, which will be closed at 8:30 p.m. between Loring Lane and Overlook Drive.
Parking will not be allowed on Western Avenue or on nearby side streets, such as Kensington Avenue or Granville Road, but free parking will be available at the Second Congregational Church, the Westfield State University commuter parking lot with the entrance across from Westwood Drive, and the WSU south parking lot with the entrance across from Juniper Park School.
Visitors with a valid handicap parking plate or placard will be allowed to enter Stanley Park by the west entrance near the tennis courts and will park as directed by staff. A park spokesperson pointed out that the park will be closed in preparation for event and visitors will be welcomed after 4 p.m.
Kensington Avenue will also closed at 8:30 p.m. and residents hosting gathering or parties are advised to have guest come early. On-street parking is prohibited, so vehicles of guests have to be parked on the host’s property.
Valliere said that in past years motorists have stopped, or just parked, on Kensington Avenue, which has added to traffic and pedestrian congestion after the display, a situation the department plans to alleviate this year by closing the street to vehicular traffic.
There are “only about 10 houses on the street” Valliere said, and officers will visit the residents to make sure they know, and to advised any guests they expect, that the road will close as the time for the fireworks display nears.
After the sparks stop flying, about 10 p.m., Western Avenue will remain closed for 15-30 minutes until the main throng of pedestrians leaves the park. When the roadway reopens, all traffic will be required to turn right on to Western Avenue when leaving the area.
Vehicles parked on the south side of the Western Avenue will be directed east and cars parked on the north side of the roadway will be directed west toward Russell Road.
Traffic leaving the park from the rose garden onto Kensington Avenue will turn right and proceed toward Granville Road.
The traffic plan allows for the use of Lloyds Hill if eastbound traffic backs up but only if officers on the scene deem it safe and prudent.
The 4th of July Fireworks at Stanley Park, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westfield, will be held on Saturday, 6/27/15. The rain date is 6/28/15. The event at the park will officially run from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Captain Michael McCabe issued the following press release:
Parking at Stanley Park:
VIPS: They have been given passes directing them to park at the Rose Garden and enter via Gate 3. That is the Kensington entrance.
Vendors: Have been issued Vendor passes and should use Gate 1 which is the western entrance from Western Av. across from the Woodward Center.
Handicapped people: Handicapped persons will also be directed to Gate 1 and must be properly displaying their placards. Only those with valid placards will be allowed in. All placards will be subject to inspection by police personnel.
Traffic rules:
Lloyd’s Hill Rd. will be closed to all traffic at 6:00 p.m.
Mountain View St. will be closed to all traffic at 6:00 p.m.
Western Av. will be closed to through traffic at 8:30 p.m., from Loring Lane to Overlook Dr., and will reopen after the fireworks are completed.
Kensington Av. will be closed to control on street parking at 8:30p.m.
Traffic flow at completion of the fireworks
Upon completion, all persons parking west of Stanley Park (the Westfield State University (WSU) side) will be directed to head west towards Bates Road to access Russell Road (Route 20), and Upper Western Avenue to access Northwest Road.
All vehicles exiting the South Lot of WSU (across for Juniper Park), must turn left onto Western Avenue.
All vehicles turning out of the WSU Commuter Lot and the Second Congregational Church Lot will be directed right out of the lot heading westbound until Western Av. can be safely reopened.
All persons parking east of the park (towards the center of the city) will be directed east onto Western Av.
Special safety rules for the event:
There will be no riding of bicycles, skateboards, or long boards of any kind allowed on the grounds for the collective safety of the patrons. There are no dogs of any size allowed on the grounds unless it is a registered guide dog for visually-impaired patrons.
