Fireworks may return to the beach

Bryce Alderton

That familiar “popping” sound and spectacle of glowing reds, blues and

greens illuminating Surf City’s night sky on July 4 may be switching

spots.

The Fourth of July Executive Board, made up of seven volunteers each

appointed by a city council member, is trying to move the fireworks

display from Huntington Beach High School to the beach said Margie

Bunten, chairwoman of the fireworks division of the board.

“Citizens have told us they would love to have them on the beach,” she

said.

Ongoing discussions about changing the location of the fireworks have

intensified in the last year, but more details must be worked out before

the board can give its request to City Council, Bunten said, adding that

the hope is to get the item on the City Council agenda by late February.

Police, for whom the Fourth of July was once the busiest day of the

year, are concerned that moving fireworks back to the beach would cause

traffic jams, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Chuck Thomas. But the

department will back whatever decision the City Council makes, he said.

“We’re concerned about people getting into and out of an area with the

limited thoroughfares of Beach [Boulevard], Pacific Coast Highway and

Goldenwest [Street],” Thomas said.

Police first have to look at where the fireworks would be shot off

before they decide what to do, Thomas said.

Fourth of July celebrations in the city have tamed considerably since

the mid 1990s when revelers gathered on Main Street and surrounding

residential streets setting fires and throwing bottles and firecrackers

at police, which arrested 549 people in 1996 and barricaded a dozen

streets Downtown in an attempt to control the mayhem.

Viewers currently gather in the football stadium at Huntington Beach

High School to watch the fireworks light up the night sky.

Fire Department officials said the history of problems at the current

site has been minimal, and that they remain neutral as to what site is

used.

“We regulate heavily what fireworks are shot off and make sure we have

a licensed pyrotechnic official at the site,” said Michael Dolder,

Huntington Beach Fire Chief.

Many Downtown business owners would be excited to see the fireworks

return to the beach.

“For the Downtown merchants I don’t think it would make a difference

in sales but it’s a nice community event for all the kids and families,”

said Ron McLin, manager of the Longboard Restaurant and Pub and a member

of the Downtown Merchants Assn.

If the change is made, it would be the second major change to the

Fourth of July festivities in as many years.

Last year the parade route was altered to include a historic portion

of Pacific Coast Highway and Downtown Main Street. Pier Plaza was also

included for the first time.

The Fourth of July executive board has already decided on the theme,

“Huntington Beach Celebrates the Spirit of America,” for this year’s

Fourth of July activities, which include the 98th parade, a street fair,

a 5K run and the fireworks, Bunten said.