Orchards Owner Says Road Project Will Bite Into Business

Parker Orchards has been at 11 Spring Road for 66 years.

Yet, owner George Parker Jr. is concerned that starting today, Wednesday, motorists won't know how to find his business during "my prime season."

Spring Road will close to through traffic for water and sewer construction for about six to eight weeks this fall starting Wednesday, according to the Westborough Engineering Department.

The road closing will run from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and span from Upton Road to Lee Ann Circle. A detour will take motorists from Upton Road to Crossman Avenue to Phylmor Drive to Lackey Street.

Parker said Tuesday that his customers "have expressed some concern" about getting to the orchards during the construction.

"A lot of them don't know the area," he said.

Parker said selectmen are allowing him to "put signs up along the route" to help address the issue.

"Still, that big sign that says, 'Spring Road Closed,' that's the killer. They need to let something go on there that says the orchard is open during construction."

Parker said he planned to call Selectman Denny Drewry on Tuesday to ask if a notice that Parker Orchards is open during the construction could be added to the electronic traffic alert sign.

Parker said the detour is the longest he can remember.

"It'd be closed for a day. They're talking about keeping this closed for two to three weeks. And that two to three weeks is right in my prime season," said Parker, whose parents, George Sr. and Helen Parker, started the orchards in 1947.

"The apples that are the most favored are the Macoun, and we have a very good crop of them. (And) people want pumpkins. 

"October is my busiest month of the season."