Officials are hoping temporary traffic restrictions around Ty Warmer Park will make it easier for thousands of people coming in for the Fourth of July festival and fireworks.

The Westmont Police Department is looking to make some traffic and parking changes at the park throughout the entire day July 4, including making several streets one-way to help the flow of cars.

Acting Police Chief Tom Mulhearn said at the June 15 Village Board meeting that concerns about traffic flow at the heavily attended festival in the past will mean some changes for this year’s holiday celebration at the park.

The Westmont Park District will hold a two-day festival next month to celebrate Independence Day and the district’s 50th anniversary.

Mulhearn said the village wants to try making all four streets around the perimeter of the park one-way streets clockwise around the park. The streets would include Plaza, Burr Oak and Blackhawk drives and Chestnut Avenue.

The restrictions would be in place from 6 a.m. to midnight on July 4, so cars would not be able to park on the opposite side of the street during that time, Mulhearn said.

The July 4 event has seen increase in crowds in recent years, and thousands of people attended the fireworks display last year. With the increased crowds comes more traffic, and it has been taking longer to get cars out of the area at the conclusion of the event, Mulhearn said.

“We believe using a one-way traffic configuration will provide a more orderly evacuation of the area, and assist with parking and safety concerns,” Mulhearn said.

Streets that will not be impacted are Plaza Drive and Chestnut Avenue from Cass Avenue to Burr Oak Drive, and Blackhawk Drive from Plaza Drive to Ogden Avenue, officials said.

Due to the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, and the Westmont Park District’s 50th anniversary festival celebration, crowds may be even larger this year than in the past, said Trustee Sue Senicka.

“It always amazes me how well they get everyone out of the area each year,” she said. “This should be a big help for our police department.”

Police said they will review how the proposal went, as they do at the end of each year, to see if it went well, and to make recommendations for the next year’s event.