Report to City Council
ID: 26-0201 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Melissa Walker, Public Works Director/City Engineer
AGENDA DATE: May 19, 2026
TITLE: ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE
AND FUNFEST (REPORT OF: PUBLIC WORKS)
(DISTRICT 1)
TITLE SUMMARY: Approve The Road Closures For The 4th Of July Parade And Funfest
DISTRICT: District 1
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Approve all recommended road closures for the 2026 4th of July Parade and Funfest; and
2. Authorize the Moreno Valley Police Department and the Public Works Director/City Engineer authority to make additional changes or recommend road closures as needed for the event.
SUMMARY
This report recommends approval of road closures for the City’s annual 4th of July Parade and Funfest, as outlined in this staff report. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., with road closures in effect from 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Funfest will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Moreno Valley Civic Center Amphitheater. Parking will be restricted on Alessandro Boulevard between Frederi ck Street and Graham Street from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with additional road closures from 8:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. for the fireworks fallout zone.
ID: 26-0201 Page 2
The report also recommends authorizing the Moreno Valley Police Department and the Public Works D irector/City Engineer to make necessary adjustments or carry out additional road closures to ensure safe conditions before, during, and after the event.
DISCUSSION
The City’s 4th of July Parade and Funfest is a long-standing community tradition, now in its 36th year. The event features a parade, festivities, and a fireworks show. In 2025, the parade featured more than 80 entries, largely comprised of local businesses, church groups, youth groups, and other non -profit organizations, and attracted approximately 2,000 spectators.
The Funfest and f ireworks show drew approximately 1,900 attendees to the Moreno Valley Civic Center Amphitheater and surrounding streets, where the evening concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. This year’s event will follow the same format, road closures, and parking restrictions as the 2025 event.
To ensure safe conditions before, during, and after the event, the following road closures are proposed for Saturday, July 4, 2026:
I. Proposed Street Closures (6:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for the parade) 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.
II. Parking Restrictions (12:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
a. A restricted parking zone will be implemented along the southern roadway edge of Alessandro Boulevard between Frederick Street and Graham Street.
ID: 26-0201 Page 3
III. Fireworks Fallout Zone Road Closure (8:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.) a. Alessandro Boulevard between Elsworth Street and Graham Street.
IV. Parade Discussion
The road closures will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Participant Check- in is at 7:30 a.m., and the parade will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Parade participants enter north onto Veterans Way from Cactus Avenue and check in just south of Calle San Juan De Los Lagos. Staging for the parade will occur 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. At the intersection of Towngate Boulevard and Frederick Street, the parade route will turn westbound onto Towngate Boulevard and then north onto Heritage Way. Participants will disband in the parking lot located behind the Burlington store and Regency Theater in the Towngate Shopping Center.
Based on the prior year’s attendance, approximately 2,000 participants and spectators are expected.
V. Funfest Discussion and Fireworks Show
The road closures for the Funfest will be in effect from 8:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. for the firework show fallout zone , from Alessandro Boulevard to Graham Street.
Parking restrictions will be in effect in the same segment of roadway from 12:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Funfest activities consist of food vendors, game booths, rides, inflatables, live entertainment, and a beer garden. There will be limited capacity inside the Funfest, along with minimal parking availability. At the conclusion of the event, the Moreno Valley Police Department (MVPD) will have staff stationed at major intersections surrounding the Civic Center Amphitheater. The MVPD will manually control traffic signal lights as needed to facilitate the safe and efficient exodus of spectators from the area.
Funfest activities will take place at the Moreno Valley Civic Center Amphitheater.
Based on last year’s attendance, Funfest events are expected to be heavily attended.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report.
Staff recommends this alternative, as it will ensure safe conditions before, during, and after the 4th of July Parade and Funfest.
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2. Do not approve and authorize the recommended actions as presented in this staff report. Staff does not recommend this alternative as it would not ensure safe conditions before, during, and after the 4th of July Parade and Funfest and would delay notification to the businesses and residents who may be impacted by road closures and parking restrictions.
FISCAL IMPACT
Any costs associat ed 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 2026/27 operating budgets.
NOTIFICATION
Publication of the agenda.
As part of the 4th of July Parade and Funfest planning process, businesses and residents potentially impacted by the road closures will receive written notification of the street closures scheduled to take place. All written notices will be complet ed by the Moreno Valley Parks and Community Services Department.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Harold Zamora, P.E. Melissa Walker, P.E.
Engineering Division Manager/Assistant City Engineer Public Works Director/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.
ID: 26-0201 Page 5
Report Approval Details
Document
Title:
STAFFREPORT_PW_TED_ROADCLOSURES_JULY4_PARADE_FUNF
EST_2026.docx
Attachmen
ts:
- 2026 4th of July Traffic Plan.pdf
- 4th of July Parade Staging Layout.pdf
- 4th of July Parade Route.pdf
- 4th of July Funfest Layout.pdf
Final
Approval
Date:
May 13, 2026
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Melissa Walker
Sean Kelleher
Natalia Medina
Felicia London, MPA
No Signature - Task assigned to Launa Jimenez was completed by assistant Angel Galache
Launa Jimenez
Brian Mohan
Patty Rodriguez