The Select Board on Tuesday unanimously approved the permit application for the Boston Athletic Association to start the 130th Boston Marathon in Hopkinton on April 20.

The historic race is expected to draw 30,000 runners from around the world, according to Jack Fleming, the BAA’s president and chief executive officer.

“Hopkinton, if I could say, is the original,” he said, comparing the town to ancient Greece. “There’s no other place in sport; there’s no other place in marathon [history] like Hopkinton.

“Runners wait and dream their entire lives for the opportunity to come to Hopkinton,” continued Fleming. “And we look forward to shining a very strong, powerful light on the town, its residents and everything that you all stand for.”

Fleming noted that the BAA has been coordinating with town departments for months. In particular, it has worked extensively with public safety officials and the Hopkinton Marathon Committee.

“We know that there are many from Hopkinton who are every bit as passionate about this event as we are at the Boston Athletic Association,” Fleming continued. “It is our responsibility to do this to the town’s liking, and we take that responsibility very, very seriously.”

Modification to race structure outlined

BAA operations production manager Dan Satchwell explained that the marathon will be slightly restructured. Instead of the traditional four waves of runners, there will be six. This change previously was discussed with Hopkinton’s public safety leaders as well as the Department of Public Works to “ease congestion in areas that previously experienced overcrowding.”

Fleming added that its will create “a more constant flow” of runners, rather than pockets of activity.

There will also be a new route for runners to go from the Hopkinton High School/Hopkinton Middle School complex, where they congregate, to the start line via Maple Street and Church Street, he added. Impacted residents on those streets will be sent a letter four weeks prior to the race with specific information.

Abutters to the course will be sent a letter on April 6 regarding the new format as well.

Also, 120 toilets and a fluid station have been added at St. John the Evangelist Parish to “improve the participant experience,” according to Satchwell. And there is a “more effective evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.”

The professional athlete village will be set up April 14, he added. The start line will be painted April 15, weather permitting.

The BAA is coordinating with the Parks & Recreation Department and the Marathon Committee for marathon weekend activities, including food trucks and indoor events.

Chair Joe Clark thanked the BAA members for their partnership and coordination efforts with the town.

“It’s really the biggest day for our small town,” he said.

Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said he liked the new race grouping format because “it decreases the density of the runners,” leading to less chance of injury. He also praised the addition of a second evacuation route.

“They came to us at the highest level to see if this was even an option,” added Hopkinton Police Chief Jospeh Bennett. “That’s the way it works with the BAA; it’s a collaboration in its purest form.”

Brian Herr, who previously ran the marathon a few times, also liked the new “tweak.”

“I think that’s going to keep the runners moving more steadily at the start through the process to get to the line,” he said. “And then, throughout the course, it’s great for the runners.”

Marathon celebrates America, state history

This year, the marathon will kick off major America250 and MA250 celebrations, Fleming stressed. These are bipartisan celebrations of signing of the Declaration of Independence and the respective anniversaries of the country and state. Events throughout the year will highlight their history, diversity and future promise.

Added Fleming: “We hope that this year’s Boston Marathon will be something for everyone and truly will be a source of pride.”

The marathon’s grand marshal will be Jack Fultz. He won the men’s division of the 1976 Boston Marathon. It was known as the “Run for the Hoses” because it was the hottest day in the race’s history. Temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees.

Marathon Committee chair Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace talked about the excitement volunteers feel when they assist the athletes. She also complimented the town departments and the BAA, noting “everybody worked together to make this happen.”

“You just hear story after story of just what this race means to so many people on different levels,” she added.

100-yard dash permit approved

In a 5-0 vote, the board approved a permit for a 100-yard dash on April 18 at 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Marathon Committee, it will begin at the Boston Marathon start line and end at the Main Street/Hayden Rowe intersection.