Big bang? Some fireworks canceled, but many shows will go on
By BETSY DEMITROPOULOS – editorial@kcchronicle.com
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| People gather on the athletic field of Batavia High School to watch the 2006 Sky Concert. (Travis Haughton - thaughton@kcchronicle.com) |
It is tradition for Mary Clark, of Batavia, and her 12-year-old grandson, Matthew, to watch Batavia’s fireworks together on the Fourth of July.
“We’re lucky enough to be able to see the fireworks from my house,” Clark said.
Batavia residents might consider themselves lucky to be able to hold an annual fireworks celebration, as so many communities across the country are canceling their annual fireworks events because of budget woes and other reasons.
Nationwide, fireworks displays have been canceled in Shawnee, Kan.; Mesa, Ariz.; Lowell, Mass.; and Colorado Springs, Colo., to name a few.
In the Fox Valley region, Elburn and Elgin are among the local communities that have canceled their fireworks shows this summer.
“Like many municipalities throughout the state, we had to take a hard look at budgetary concerns,” said Susan Olafson, Elgin’s public information officer. “We needed to make a difficult decision regarding what to offer and what to cut back on.”
Olafson said the city already is reviewing next year’s budget, and she believes Elgin’s fireworks cancellation will be a one-time event.
Rather than cancel altogether, some communities have decided to make their fireworks displays less sparkly by scaling back their shows.
Organizers of Elburn’s fireworks celebration explored the option of holding a toned-down celebration, but in the end, decided to cancel the show and set aside all donations collected for this year’s fireworks celebration for next year’s show.
However, St. Charles’ fireworks display will be just as extravagant as it was last year, said Erika Young, PR and marketing manager for the St. Charles Park District.
The St. Charles Park District and the city of St. Charles are the two biggest sponsors of St. Charles’ fireworks. Young said the show will cost about $20,000. St. Charles’ fireworks will be held on Saturday and can be best viewed at Pottawatomie Park or Ferson Creek Park.
Like St. Charles’ show, Batavia’s fireworks will be no different compared to last year’s event, said Roger Breisch, who has served as chairman of the Batavia Fireworks Committee for the last 17 years. Batavia’s fireworks display will cost about $30,000 to put on.
This year, the committee aggressively sought donations to make its Independence Day celebration possible. Breisch said, however, there was never a question whether Batavia would hold its annual fireworks display, even though sponsorship dollars are down compared to last year.
Breisch said donations made through the committee’s Web site campaign countered the drop in funds from sponsors. Web site donations totaled between $2,500 and $3,000. Batavia’s fireworks are set for 9:30 p.m. Saturday and are best seen at Engstrom Park at the corner of Millview Drive and West Main Street.
Although North Aurora’s village board voted to suspend its fireworks this year, a partnership between the village and the city of Aurora means that residents of both communities will be able to enjoy a combined fireworks display.
The combined fireworks display will be held today on the grounds of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and Aurora Central Catholic High School.
Amy Roth, Aurora’s public information officer, said the fireworks display will cost the city about $35,000, an amount paid out of the general fund budget. North Aurora’s contribution to the event will total $4,000. Roth said the total budget for Aurora’s July 4th celebration is $84,000.
Aurora mayor Tom Weisner said he’s pleased with the partnership.
“Independence Day is a day to celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America,” Weisner said. “The fact that we can commemorate the day with our neighbors to the north is symbolic of that freedom.”
