Walpole Officials Start Preparations For Country Fest

With Kenny Chesney’s annual stop at Gillette Stadium weeks away, Walpole officials are preparing to deal with the traffic that comes with the show commonly known as, “Country Fest.”

After traffic backed into East Walpole last year, police are hoping to lessen the issue of traffic this year with more police and fire officials stationed in South Walpole. Gillette Stadium will cover the costs of the extra public safety officials needed in the area according to town administrator Michael Boydon.

The new strategy comes after attempts to work with Foxborough and the state police were unsuccessful.

“Last year we had a plan that we thought was going to work. Foxborough did not implement that plan and we ended up with a traffic issue in Walpole,” police chief Richard Stillman said.

In addition, concert goers started drinking alcohol in the streets of Walpole while they waited for traffic to move. 

Walpole officials reached out to Foxborough officials again this year, but did not feel there was a desire to work together.

“When we were asking for consideration of what was going on in Walpole we were basically told ‘there’s the door and whatever,’” selectwoman Nancy Mackenzie said.

Part of the plan is to allow Stillman to have the authority to open the stadium lots in South Walpole early if necessary. While allowing access to 300 parking spaces early may not solve the traffic problem, Stillman hopes it does take some cars off the road. When asked how early he would allow the lots to open if needed, Stillman said it would be no more than an hour before the other lots open.

Selectman Cliff Snuffer was concern that opening the lots early could cause a rush before the spaces are taken.

“If suddenly 3,000 people know it’s going to open an hour earlier and I know it’s an on the fly decision, all I can imagine is 3,000 cars trying to go for the lot,”  Snuffer said.

All Walpole lot owners will receive letters reminding them of their capacity and residents in South Walpole will also get a letter notifying them that allowing cars to park on their lawns is prohibited.

Chesney brings the ‘No Shoes Nation’ tour to Gillette Stadium on Aug. 23 and 24.