While there are still details to be worked out, the July 4 fireworks show in Longmont is looking more like a go.
The city announced late Tuesday night that conditional approval had been granted to launch the fireworks display from the Fire Training Center, 111 First Ave., but the plan still needed approval from Boulder County Public Health.
In an email late Wednesday, Longmont Assistant City Manager Sandi Seader stated the health department has said the show can proceed with certain conditions.
The show is still tentative, though. A determination on a final permit for the event won’t be made until city staff works through guidance from Boulder County Public Health and finalizes details of the traffic plan, Seader stated.
Key among the conditions outlined by the health department will be efforts to keep large crowds from gathering to view the display. The latest version of the statewide public health order, dubbed “Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors,” limits gatherings to 10 people or less. Fireworks shows, however, are not expressly prohibited.
Boulder County Public Health has asked the city to coordinate with law enforcement to patrol areas where populations are likely to congregate to view the show, and to ensure “messaging is distributed to the community to not gather and to view the fireworks with household members only,” Seader stated in her email.
The fireworks display, an annual tradition at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, is presented by Skyline Kiwanis. The club has conditionally been granted a use of public places permit to launch fireworks from the Fire Training Center. The club also asked to close surrounding streets to discourage gathering and to ensure an appropriate fallout zone, Seader stated in her email.
The show also has been adapted “to only shoot very tall fireworks to give better visibility to people in the community,” and Skyline Kiwanis plans “to close Dickens Park to discourage gathering and to post no parking signs on surrounding streets,” Seader stated.
Skyline Kiwanis last year took on the mantle of fundraising for the costs of the fireworks display after funding for the show was cut from the city budget. This year the club is sponsoring the event and has been raising money to keep the tradition alive.
“The goal is to generate $45,000 to cover the cost of the fireworks and associated expenses,” the club stated in a post on its website. “We all love the traditional fireworks dating back as long as we can remember.”
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