Report to City Council
ID: 25-0236 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Melissa Walker, Public Works Director/City Engineer
AGENDA DATE: May 20, 2025
TITLE: TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE 4TH OF
JULY PARADE AND FUN FEST (REPORT OF: PUBLIC
WORKS) (DISTRICT 1)
TITLE SUMMARY: Authorization of the Temporary Road Closures for the 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest and Fireworks Show
DISTRICT: District 1
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Approve all recommended road closures for the 2025 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest and Fireworks Show; and
2. Authorize the Moreno Valley Police Department and the Public Works Director/City Engineer the authority to make additional changes or recommended road closures as needed for the event.
SUMMARY
This report recommends granting the Moreno Valley Police Department /Public Works Department/City Engineer the authority to approve street closures for the City’s 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest. Recommended street closures for the parade route match those approved for the 2024 event. Closures around the Fun Fest site are proposed to ensure the safety of participants and the public. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. on Frederick Street, south of Alessandro Boulevard. The Fun Fest is held at the Civic Center Amphitheater and Park, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The fireworks show will begin around 9:00 p.m. as the Fun Fest finale and end by 9:30 p.m.
ID: 25-0236 Page 2
DISCUSSION
For the past 35 years, the City has sponsored the Independence Day Celebration, which includes a parade, festivities, and fireworks show. The parade in 202 4 was a success, with more than 90 entries comprised largely of local businesses, church groups, youth groups, and other non-profit organizations. Approximately 1,500 spectators attended the 2024 Independence Day Parade.
The Fun Fest and Fireworks Display w as successful in attra cting an estimated 15,000 spectators to the City’s amphitheater and surrounding streets. Those in attendance enjoyed the festival atmosphere throughout the day and the excitement of the fireworks display that evening. Street closures for both the parade and the festival site are the same as those closures for the 2024 event.
I. Proposed Street Closures
1. Closure of the following streets between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to conduct the Fourth of July Parade scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 4, 2025:
a. Towngate Boulevard between Frederick Street, Eucalyptus Avenue and Memorial Way;
b. Frederick Street between Centerpointe Drive and Cactus Avenue; c. Cottonwood Avenue between Pan Am Boulevard and Dunhill Drive; d. Eucalyptus Avenue between Pan Am Boulevard and Kochi Drive; e. Dracaea Avenue between Pan Am Boulevard and Kochi Drive; f. Atlantic Circle east of Frederick Street;
g. Brabham Street between Frederick Street and Andretti Street; h. Towngate Boulevard between Frederick Street and Heritage Way; i. Bay Avenue between Kristina Court and Courage Street; j. Alessandro Boulevard between Chagall Court and Elsworth Street; k. Brodiaea Avenue between Joy Street, and Frederick Street; l. Resource Way between Frederick Street and Corporate Way; m. Corporate Way between Calle San Juan de Los Lagos and Resource Way;
n. Eastridge Street between Frederick Street and Heritage Way; o. Calle San Juan De Los Lagos between Frederick Street and Veterans Way;
p. Veterans Way between Business Center Drive and Alessandro Boulevard;
q. New Hope between Veterans Way and Elsworth;
r. Veterans Way between Cactus Avenue and Alessandro Boulevard, and
s. Heritage Way between Towngate Boulevard and Town Circle.
2. Restrict parking along the southern roadway edge of Alessandro Boulevard between Frederick Street and Graham Street from 12:00 am until 10:00 pm on July 4, 2025.
ID: 25-0236 Page 3
3. Closure of the following street between the hours of 8:00 pm to 9:45 pm for the firework fallout zone.
a. Alessandro Boulevard between Frederick Street and Graham Street.
II. Parade Discussion
The parade takes place on July 4, 202 5. Parade participants enter north onto Veterans Way from Cactus Avenue and check in near just south of Calle San Juan De Los Lagos. Staging for the parade takes place on Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Corporate Way, Resource Way, and Frederick Street. The parade route begins on Frederick Street at Alessandro Boulevard and proceeds north on Frederick Street to Towngate Boulevard. When the parade reaches the intersection of Towngate Boulevard and Frederick Street, it turns westbound on Towngate Boulevard and finally turns northbound onto Heritage Way. Parade participants disband in the parking lot located between the rear of the Burlington store and the Regency Theater in the Towngate Shopping Center. The parade begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and concludes before noon. Based on the prior year’s attendance, city staff is anticipating approximately 2,000 participants and spectators for the parade.
III. Fun Fest Discussion and Fireworks Show
Festivities continue July 4, 202 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with the Fun Fest activities at the Civic Center Amphitheater and Park. Staff is anticipating a very large crowd based on past Fun Fest events. Additionally, the Fun Fest consists of food vendors, game booths, rides, inflatabl es, live entertainment, and a beer garden. There will be limited capacity inside the Fun Fest, along with minimal parking availability. At the conclusion of the event, police officers will be stationed at major intersections surrounding the Civic Center Amphitheater and Park. Police officers will manually control the traffic signal lights as needed to facilitate the safe and efficient exodus of spectators out of the area.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer the author ity to approve all 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest street closures in concurrence with the Moreno Valley Police Department. Staff recommends this alternative as it will allow a thorough process to ensure participant and resident safety.
2. Elect not to authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer the authority to approve all 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest street closures in concurrence with the Moreno Valley Police Department and provide further direction to staff. Staff does not recommend this alt ernative, as businesses and residents need to be advised of potential street closures as soon as possible.
ID: 25-0236 Page 4
FISCAL IMPACT
Any costs associated with the requested street closures are addressed in the Moreno Valley Police Department, Public Works Department, and Parks and Community Services Department Special Events Division Fiscal Year 2025/26 operating budgets.
NOTIFICATION
As part of the 4th of July Parade and Fun Fest planning process, businesses and residents that are potentially impacted by the street cl osures receive written notification of the street closures scheduled to take place. All written notices will be completed by the Moreno Valley Parks and Community Services Department.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Wei Sun, T.E., PTOE Melissa Walker, P.E
City Traffic Engineer Public Works Director/City Engineer Concurred By:
Harold Zamora, P.E.
Engineering Division Manager/Assistant City Engineer
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Public Safety: Provide a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community, control the number and severity of fire and hazardous material incidents, and provide protection for citizens who live, work and visit the City of Moreno Valley.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
1. Economic Development
2. Public Safety
3. Library
4. Infrastructure
5. Beautification, Community Engagement, and Quality of Life
6. Youth Programs
Objective 2.8: Enhance communication and coordination with City departments to provide accountability in emergency preparedness activities and minimize redundancy of efforts citywide.
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Report Approval Details
Document Title: STAFFREPORT_PW_TED_JULY4_2025.docx
Attachments: - 4th of July Parade Route.pdf
- 4th of July Parade Staging Layout.pdf
- 4th of July Fun Fest Overview.pdf
Final Approval
Date:
May 12, 2025
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Melissa Walker
Sean Kelleher
Natalia Lopez
Dena Heald
Launa Jimenez
Brian Mohan
Patty Rodriguez