Detroit’s City Council president questions closing parks ahead of fireworks

VaselineJune 25, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Detroit’s City Council president questions closing parks ahead of fireworks

Detroit — City Council President Mary Sheffield said Monday night that she is questioning the early closing of city parks along the riverfront on fireworks night.

Sheffield submitted a memorandum to Detroit Police Chief James White and the city’s Department of General Services to determine “how the city can be as accommodating as possible for residents who have difficulty viewing fireworks in Hart Plaza and other traffic areas intensive. ,” she said in a statement to The News.

The memo comes after several complaints on social media site X about the city’s restrictions on viewing the 66th annual Ford Fireworks, which begins at 10 p.m. The city of Detroit reiterates that nearly a dozen parks along the riverfront are closed Monday and anyone showing up will be asked to leave before showtime.

City spokesman John Roach said the park closure policy has been in place for years and allows the Detroit Police Department to ensure the safety of all attendees. The parks’ usual closing time is 10 p.m., when the show is expected to begin, police said in a statement.

“Following the successful fireworks display safety plan of past years, and as in years past, several riverfront parks will be closed for this year’s fireworks display,” Detroit police said in a statement. “To prevent the removal of expected fireworks spectators from the parks at 10 p.m., the City of Detroit and the Detroit Police Department are restricting access prior to closing at 10 p.m.”

Earlier Monday, Sheffield posted on X: “Disappointed to see city parks closed this year to view the annual fireworks, which directly affects our neighborhoods. If we can get it right for the NFL draft, we can do the same here!”

Sheffield deleted the tweet shortly afterward and later sent a note to city officials asking how long DPD had been closing the parks; whether DPD has the ability to avoid closing parks for fireworks; and who approved the closing of the parks.

“This restricts access to viewing for some of our most vulnerable residents, including the elderly and disabled residents,” she said.

The city said on social media that the best viewing sites are Hart Plaza, Spirit Plaza and Belle Isle, although viewing from the MacArthur Bridge will not be allowed.

As hundreds of thousands of spectators line the riverfront, city and state authorities are imposing restrictions on access to several parks. The following parks are closed to viewing:

Entire Riverwalk including Milliken State Park/Harbor
AB Ford Park, 100 Lenox
Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson
Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight
Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale
Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott
Riverside Park

Detroit police say they are beefing up uniformed, plainclothes and undercover officers and are using their Real-Time Crime Center as part of their safety plan. All attendees wishing to watch from Hart Plaza are screened and will not be allowed to re-enter once exited.

“Decisions regarding open viewing areas are made in the interest of the safety of the hundreds of thousands of attendees by dedicating a police presence to this event and limiting congestion in areas around the city,” police said.

Both Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are gun-free zones, with only law enforcement officers allowed to carry weapons, officials reiterated.

The markets will be open until capacity is reached, no tents, alcohol, drones, pets, contraband, flames, fireworks or cooking items are allowed in the markets.

Alcohol consumption, tents and fireworks are prohibited on Belle Isle.

The City of Detroit will enforce the existing curfew for minors 17 and under, which will be in effect from 8:00 p.m. Monday through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Rosa Parks Boulevard, Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, extension of Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.

The fireworks show will be broadcast live on NBC affiliate WDIV (Local 4. Coverage of the Ford fireworks will begin at 8 p.m. with pre-show events. Fireworks are expected to begin around 10 p.m.).

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VaselineJune 25, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Vaseline

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