July Fourth loses some of its spark as two big fireworks shows are canceled

By CHAD DAY
The Kansas City Star
There will be a little less fire in the sky this Fourth of July in Kansas City. Two of the area’s largest fireworks displays have been canceled.
But other displays will go on.
The cities of Lenexa and Shawnee canceled this year’s fireworks display in Shawnee Mission Park — about 14,000 people attended last year — for budget reasons. Blue Springs canceled its show because of construction at its usual site.
Carol Gonzales, Shawnee’s city manager, said that with 20 vacant positions, her city needed to save the more than $30,000 it would have contributed to the display.
She compared forgoing the show with families cutting back on eating out during tough times.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s the fun things that get cut first,” Gonzales said, noting that most residents have understood the city’s need to save money. It’s unlikely the city will be able to contribute to the fireworks for the next few years, she said.
Eric Wade, Lenexa’s city administrator, said he expected his city to hold a display next year. If Shawnee can’t contribute, Lenexa will look at other ways to fund the display, he said.
Charlie Wald, the president of fireworks distributor Wald & Co., which would have supplied the Lenexa-Shawnee show, said most cities are spending the same as they did last year and sticking with the same shows.
Jeremy Kovac, the owner of Aerial FX in St. Joseph, said he hasn’t lost any business this year. Only one show that his company is supplying has cut its budget.
“I’ve heard there are some shows cutting back or even canceling, but we’ve luckily not fell into that problem,” Kovac said.
Harrisonville, Kearney and Lee’s Summit had the money to hold their fireworks displays this year, spokespeople for those cities said. Although their budgets stayed the same, the cities worked around higher fireworks prices so most people won’t notice a difference.
Across the Midwest, cities also may be deciding to keep their shows because this year July Fourth falls on a Saturday, said Julie L. Heckman, the executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association. With many people already off for the weekend, that means more have time to attend a fireworks show.
Ryan Marcotte, Kearney’s recreation coordinator, said his city is keeping its show because of what it means to the more than 6,000 people who usually attend.
“It’s something the whole community looks forward to and something that we’re looking to continue to do.”
To reach Chad Day, call 816-234-4188 or send e-mail to cday@kcstar.com.

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