A large-scale military response exercise training on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) will be held at Fort Williams Park on Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Participating agencies include: Maine Army National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, FBI, Maine State Police Bomb Squad, Portland Police Department Bomb Squad, Portland Fire Department, South Portland Fire Department, York Fire Department, Maine CDC, Portland EMA (Emergency Management Association), Cumberland EMA, MEMA, Transportation Security Association, and the United States Coast Guard.

According to Officer in Charge Anthony R. Sturgis, Fort Williams Park was selected because, "It provides a level of realism and credibility that others [locations] may not for hosting high level political events such as the Governors Conference."

The Town Council approved this requests through a Consent Calendar at the May 13, 2024 council meeting.

Members of the public who are sensitive to loud sounds and/or these sort of military exercises should consider visiting the park outside of the event hours.