2008 Woodie Awards
Citizens disagree on fireworks relocation
Brad McAllister
Issue date: 7/4/07 Section: Arts & Lifestyle
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Whitewater's annual Fourth of July festival blasts off today with a lakefront event including carnival rides, live music, tons of fireworks and more.
Most people are anticipating the festivities - the only problem is that some still prefer the original festival location, Starin Park, for its natural shade and plentiful parking.
The downtown extravaganza begins today and will last six days. Fireworks are reserved for four of the festival nights starting at 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Although the location of the festival was switched six years ago to the Cravath Lakefront, some people have not gotten used to the change.
"[The festival] belongs back at Starin Park," Jill Johnson, former Fourth of July planning committee member, said. Johnson spent four years on the volunteer planning committee and has been disappointed with the festival ever since its relocation.
"One of the main draws for the kids is the baseball tournaments held at Starin Park," Johnson said. She preferred the festival to be centrally located, as it was at Starin where the kids could play ball, enjoy the rides and watch the fireworks all in the same area.
Johnson also favors the park for its numerous shade trees and convenient parking. Many of the University parking lots were used when the festival was held at Starin.
Dave Bergman, owner of The Brass Rail Tavern, also stressed the advantage of shade and parking at Starin Park. Bergman said he likes the fireworks on the lake and that the downtown festival can help his business sometimes, but he ultimately preferred the festival at the park.
There was a survey given to Whitewater citizens before the decision to move the festival, and the majority of people surveyed favored the lakefront.
Jean Mills is one of many who prefer the lakefront location. Mills is a co-chair of the Whitewater Fourth of July planning committee, which has been planning the event since September of last year. The committee is responsible for everything from finding the pyrotechnic crew for fireworks to booking the several bands that play throughout the festival.
Most people are anticipating the festivities - the only problem is that some still prefer the original festival location, Starin Park, for its natural shade and plentiful parking.
The downtown extravaganza begins today and will last six days. Fireworks are reserved for four of the festival nights starting at 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Although the location of the festival was switched six years ago to the Cravath Lakefront, some people have not gotten used to the change.
"[The festival] belongs back at Starin Park," Jill Johnson, former Fourth of July planning committee member, said. Johnson spent four years on the volunteer planning committee and has been disappointed with the festival ever since its relocation.
"One of the main draws for the kids is the baseball tournaments held at Starin Park," Johnson said. She preferred the festival to be centrally located, as it was at Starin where the kids could play ball, enjoy the rides and watch the fireworks all in the same area.
Johnson also favors the park for its numerous shade trees and convenient parking. Many of the University parking lots were used when the festival was held at Starin.
Dave Bergman, owner of The Brass Rail Tavern, also stressed the advantage of shade and parking at Starin Park. Bergman said he likes the fireworks on the lake and that the downtown festival can help his business sometimes, but he ultimately preferred the festival at the park.
There was a survey given to Whitewater citizens before the decision to move the festival, and the majority of people surveyed favored the lakefront.
Jean Mills is one of many who prefer the lakefront location. Mills is a co-chair of the Whitewater Fourth of July planning committee, which has been planning the event since September of last year. The committee is responsible for everything from finding the pyrotechnic crew for fireworks to booking the several bands that play throughout the festival.
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