Grand Rapids Police officials say they have a solid operational plan for safety as they’ve worked the massive crowds of 200 thousand or more during the annual fireworks display for years.
Here’s GRPD Captain Vincent Riley.
“The goal of the plan is for everybody to have a safe event, but we also want it to be an enjoyable one and because of that, we have some rules.”
Captain Reilly says to start, they have festival boundaries which include 6th Street to the north, Fulton to the south, Scribner to the west and Ottawa to the east.
“Within those boundaries we ask people to respect the rules and the most important one, fireworks: leave your personal fireworks at home. It’s too dense with people. “
In addition, Captain Reilly says you should leave your pets and alcohol at home if you plan on going within their perimeter. He says bikes scooters and skateboards are also not allowed in.
He suggests if you’re coming downtown to use city parking ramps or use the Dash shuttle.
Fireworks for the city will be held Saturday the 6th -live entertainment starting at Ah-Nab-Awen Park at 6 p.m. while the fireworks are set to start at 10:30.
