Carson City responds to questions regarding Fourth of July firework changes, access to Centennial Park
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 05/24/2024 - 10:02am
Following the news that the Fourth of July fireworks will be moving to Eagle Valley Golf Course this year, many residents in the community had questions with the most important: Where can we still see them?
The fireworks display each year is put on by Carson City’s RSVP as their largest fundraiser of the year, and has been for the past 33 years. Unfortunately as of 2021, they were no longer able to utilize the fields behind Carson High School and were forced to begin looking for a new location. More on that here.
Many commenters asked why certain locations couldn’t be utilized such as Silver Oak Golf Course, the Ormsby House, or Edmond’s Sports Field. According to RSVP Director Molly Walt, all of those locations were researched. In order to be allowed to shoot off the fireworks, certain site restrictions apply, namely the site must be far enough away from houses and the freeway with access for firefighters, which would not allow Silver Oak or the sports fields.
As for the Ormsby House, they also researched the location but are unable to launch from the roof due to the building’s HVAC system.
Walt said she exhausted all locations that could keep the fireworks display close to Mills Park but the problem lies simply in space: Carson City does not have many large open spaces far enough away from housing and the freeway to use with access for firefighters.
Shooting the fireworks from the Eagle Valley Golf Course was the last possible way RSVP was able to make the fireworks show happen, Walt said. In addition to the show, which remains free to the community wherever they would like to view it, they are also hosting a golf tournament and dinner which are ticketed events as part of the fundraiser.
Many in the community also asked why the city was keeping Centennial Park closed. According to Cameron Gresh, Carson City’s new Public Information Officer, conversations are ongoing.
“Right now our biggest concern there is safety issues posed by the single entrance and exit,” Gresh said. “In the past it’s created traffic issues. As of right now that’s why it looks like the park is going to remain closed, but conversations are still ongoing.”
Gresh said in the event Centennial Park remains closed for the fourth, he said the city believes Mills Park will still have visibility of the fireworks without having to head to the golf course.
We will update with more information if the city determines opening the park is the best course of action.
For more information on the change, including how to participate in the fundraiser, click here.
