GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The City of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) are preparing for large crowds this upcoming week as Independence Day approaches. More than 40,000 people are expected to attend events in Downtown Grand Rapids, making it one of the busiest holiday gatherings of the year.
"We've seen an increase in people attending fireworks events especially after we came out of the pandemic,” said Tanya Bardy, public relations manager with Soaring Eagle Casino. "I think people are ready to get outside to start enjoying friends and family again.”
As many West Michiganders come together for family-friendly fun, authorities want to remind those attending that GRPD is prepared to have extra staff on hand with tight security protocols to ensure the safety of everyone. Last year, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated nearly 10,000 people suffered from injuries related to fireworks, resulting in eight deaths.
Tips for staying safe this 4th of July:
- Ensuring fireworks are legal in your area before purchasing them
- NEVER use fireworks while intoxicated
- Light fireworks one at a time and move back quickly
- In case of a fire, always keep a bucket of water nearby
"We have a solid operational plan with our partners here in the city and our goals for the event are safety and making sure it's an enjoyable event for everybody,” said GRPD captain Vincent Reilly. "We ask everyone to follow the rules for the event within the fireworks boundaries."
Officials warned that some items cannot be brought to the events, and bringing prohibited items could result in you being turned away. Security will be conducting bag checks at all areas of the events. Those attending should make sure to bring appropriate items.
"There will be posted rules throughout all of the parks in downtown Grand Rapids that talk about expectations; no firecrackers, no sparklers, no weapons, no alcohol and leave your pets at home,’ said Riverbank Events & Media CEO Russ Hines. We are working very closely with our partners to make sure that everybody stays safe and this is a very welcoming environment."
For more information, you can visit 4thofjulygr.com.
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