WESTFIELD – Mayor Brian Sullivan spoke with The Westfield News this morning and announced that the City is still seeking a location for the annual 4th of July fireworks celebration.
The Mayor noted that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) guidelines prohibited the City’s request to use the grounds at Barnes Regional Airport for the location this year due to the proximity of an aquifer. Special consideration could be given to the city if the city absorbed the costs for testing the water both before and after the event which is not the direction the city was willing to take this year.
Karren Valliere and Bob Jenkins are entertained by the fireworks at Stanley Park. (Photo by Liam Sheehan)
The Barnes Aquifer is a protected area just east of the airport and the remnants of exploded fireworks nearby could seep into the ground jeopardizing the water quality.
Mayor Sullivan said that he recognizes the desire to maintain this longstanding local event but due to stricter regulations of how firework displays can be presented, a location within the city is becoming harder and harder to find. Mayor Sullivan said that he, the Fire Chief and Police Chief continue to discuss possible locations.
“Where there is a large area for spectators there is no area for setting them off and where there is a viable place to set them off there is no space large enough for the crowd,” Mayor Sullivan said.
In recent years it has been estimated that close to 10,000 people have converged on Stanley Park for the annual display.
As The Westfield News reported in October 2015, the Westfield Rotary Club Board of Directors voted to end its sponsorship of the annual Fireworks for Freedom display and Stanley Park opted to discontinue their involvement.
