Montebello parks department outlines summer programs, Independence Day Spectacular with road closures and shuttle service

Assistant Director Veronica RmIrez presented the Parks and Recreation Department’s summer programming June 18, highlighting aquatics reopenings, movie nights, an adaptive-inclusion pool party, youth basketball registration and several large events including an Independence Day Spectacular and a downtown street festival.

Veronica said George Hensel Aquatic Center is open Monday through Saturday for recreation swim (1–4 p.m.) and is averaging about 150 visitors per day; Hollyfield Pool is open Friday through Sunday (1–4 p.m.) and is averaging about 25 visitors per day. The department sold out 21 of 25 swim-lesson sections in its first session and will open registration for session two the following morning.

The department is piloting adaptive/inclusive programming and plans three pool parties; the first is scheduled for Friday, July 10 at 4:30 p.m. at Hollyfield Park Pool and requires advanced registration and age restrictions for that session. Youth basketball registration is open for a season running Aug. 11–Sept. 26 with a $70 registration fee; divisions range from a Tiny Tots division (age 3) to Double A (up to age 15), and the D division (ages 6–7) has limited spots remaining.

Staff previewed three large community events: an Independence Day Spectacular on Saturday, June 27 at Grant Ray Park (4–9:30 p.m.) with live music, a kids zone, vendors and a fireworks display near 9 p.m.; a summer concert series every Wednesday starting July 1 through Aug. 5 at the City Park band shell; and a downtown street festival on Saturday, July 25 (3–10 p.m.) on Whittier Boulevard between Montebello Boulevard and Fourth Street. For the Independence Day event staff said Rya Drive will close at about 7:30 p.m. between Beverly and Lincoln to general traffic; only emergency vehicles and event shuttles will be permitted. Free shuttle service to Grant Ray Park will operate from Lomer Intermediate, City Hall and Hollyfield from about 3–11 p.m. to address parking limits and congestion.

When asked about vendor participation, Veronica directed prospective vendors to the recreation department and the city's online events resources for applications and noted fees vary depending on vendor type. Veronica said the movie night on Saturday, June 20 will feature Zootopia 2 with doors at 7 p.m., and two additional movie nights are scheduled July 11 and Aug. 15.

The commission did not take formal votes on programming; staff asked commissioners to help publicize events to the community and said they will report back after the initial adaptive pool party and other pilot programs.