Recreation Committee To Receive Report On Fireworks-Less Fourth Of July

The Shaker Heights Recreation and Health Committee will receive a report Wednesday on how the city's Fourth of July went without fireworks.

City leaders canceled the 2013 fireworks because of concerns about safety at the event. The move came after the police chief gave city council a presentation about problems at recent fireworks shows.

This year the city offered alternative events at Thornton Park. Events included a water carnival and a pool-side dance party at Thornton Pool, rocket car rides and bounce houses. Non-Shaker residents were only allowed to attend if accompanied by a Shaker resident.

The committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at City Hall.

Residents have expressed mixed feelings about no fireworks. While some have said the city should continue the annual shows, others have said that because of people causing trouble, it's not worth the effort anymore.

Mayor Earl Leikin said when the show was canceled that safety officials have done everything they can to make the event safe, but that its just become too difficult.

"There have been problems in maintaining order and dealing with huge numbers of young people who have shown up through social media at the fireworks and who have been disruptive," the mayor said last December.

"Last year, we had 98 officers making an all-out effort to try to control the situation, bring order to the situation," Leiken added. "We were unable to do so."

Did you participate in the new Fourth of July activities? Tell us what you thought of them in the comments.