Worcester Closes Coes Pond Parks, Stearns Tavern Amid Police Probe

WORCESTER — The city of Worcester closed Coes Pond Parks and Stearns Tavern indefinitely Friday, citing "the ongoing Worcester Police Department investigation in the area," as search crews spent a fourth day combing nearby Coes Reservoir for a woman wanted in connection with the death of a 31-year Worcester police veteran.

TOWN HALL

The city's Friday evening announcement closed Coes Pond Beach, also known as Binienda Beach, along with Columbus Park and its boardwalk, Knights of Columbus Park, and the Coes Park playground known as Coes Knife, plus the historic Stearns Tavern. Officials asked residents to avoid the area and relocated the planned Coes Pond Beach Family Day to Logan Field. The city gave no further detail on the investigation itself.

COMMUNITY & ARTS

Worcester Public Library has added two programs to its Monday, Aug. 24 schedule at the Main Library: a Stories and Songs session for young children at 11 a.m. in the Children's Program Room, and a 1 p.m. drop-in hour with the library's Social Services Specialist in the Community Resources Office.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"Arrest warrant issued for wife of off-duty Massachusetts cop who was found dead in home": Worcester Police Patrolman Kurt Solomon, 57, a 31-year department veteran, was found dead in his home Tuesday; his wife Karen Solomon faces an arrest warrant on an assault and battery charge and remains at large, considered armed and dangerous, according to ABC News (read it at https://abcnews.com/US/arrest-warrant-issued-wife-off-duty-massachusetts-cop/story?id=135851920).

"Dive teams, crews back at pond searching for woman sought in officer's death": Search crews used helicopters, divers, sonar and dogs to comb Coes Reservoir for a fourth straight day before suspending operations Friday night, per WCVB, with plans to resume Saturday morning, a search that lines up with the park closures the city's own announcement confirmed the same day (read it at https://www.wcvb.com/article/search-continues-for-karen-solomon-in-worcester/73495958).

COMING UP

Worcester's calendar stays busy through the weekend and beyond. The Best Flippin' Card Show sets up at Polar Park on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 9 a.m., and auditions for an August 2026 production are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. at 325 Main St. Next Friday, Aug. 28, brings a full slate downtown: The Sixties Show at the Hanover Theatre at 7 p.m., singer-songwriter Patty Larkin at Worcester BrickBox Theater at 7:30 p.m., and blues guitarist Joanna Connor at Mechanics Hall at 8 p.m.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.