Subject:
Title
2018 4th of July Evening Show and Fireworks at Madison High School
Body
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
The Parks & Recreation Department would like to move the Town of Vienna 4th of July Fireworks from Southside Park to Madison High School with the Louis Archer property as a portion of the fall out zone. The evening show would begin at 6pm and conclude with fireworks at 9:30pm. The event would end at 10pm. The football stadium would be used for spectator seating. The large parking lot next to the stadium would serve as the food court. The Parks & Recreation Department will handle all logistics and coordination with the Town and County's Police Department and the Fairfax County Fire Marshal's office.
Holding the July 4th fireworks at Madison High School would greatly enhance the celebration by:
1) Providing an evacuation location should inclement weather occur - microbursts, thunderstorms, tornadoes (all these have been experienced within the past ten 4th of July events in the Northern Virginia area)
2) Increasing the amount of seating
3) Providing better access to the venue
4) Increasing visibility of the fireworks display to the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses along Maple Avenue
5) Providing a food court area that would offer a variety of sweet and savory items
The Town has received clearance from the Fairfax County Fire Marshal to shoot 3 inch shells from the Madison High School baseball field. We recommend shooting 2.5 inch shells.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
The Parks & Recreation Director recommends approval to move the 4th of July evening show and fireworks to Madison High School.