Naples cancels fireworks for the Fourth of July.

Naples’ well-liked Fourth of July fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico has been postponed.

The Naples City Council unanimously resolved to do away with it on Wednesday.

Why? Hurricane Ian-related safety concerns, According to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News.

A majority of the Council agreed the potential liabilities and negative effects are simply too great this year to host the event, especially with many buildings and homes still vacant and recovering from the hurricane near the beach, some hurricane-damaged beach entrances and parking areas still closed and under repair, and these factors.

“I think moving it to another date, that has an ancillary benefit for the city, to help celebrate a very important milestone for us… that will be a very good solution for this year,” Vice Mayor Mike McCabe said.

The Naples Pier is still partly open and has to be restored as a result of Ian, but the fireworks are often launched from a barge to the north of it.

Instead, as part of a centennial commemoration, the city is planning a fireworks display for December 1.

“I think moving it to another date, that has an ancillary benefit for the city, to help celebrate a very important milestone for us… that will be a very good solution for this year,” Vice Mayor Mike McCabe said.

The Naples Pier is still partly open and has to be restored as a result of Ian, but the fireworks are often launched from a barge to the north of it.

Depending on the venue, the price of such a concert might vary from $30,000 to $50,000.

Every year, the city’s spectacle brings tens of thousands of people to the beach.

The main issue is safety.

Most council members believed the Fourth of July fireworks display would just be too unsafe, despite the fact that others thought it should go on because it was important to local residents and businesses as well as to commemorate a significant day in American history.

“Safety is my first priority. People will still utilize the ends of the beaches even if they are unsafe to cross. Paul Perry, a councilman, stated, “I know they do today.

In addition, he said, when individuals are “celebrating,” particularly in the dark, they may not pay as close attention to their surroundings or wander in inappropriate places, which raises the risk of danger or injury.

He said that he felt conflicted about calling off the event. Other councilors who agreed with the decision to skip it felt a twinge of regret as well.

Ted Blankenship, a councilman, expressed worry about the effects of canceling the event on local businesses, who benefit from increased sales and earnings during a time of year that is typically slower with fewer summer people in town.

Mayor Teresa Heitmann said that maybe the city might come up with another innovative idea to help the companies at that time.

“I agree,” she said. It’s a slow period right now.

Councilman Terry Hutchison pushed for the city to find a way to maintain its custom, highlighting the importance of the holiday and its significance.

He considered it crucial to maintain the “pomp part” of the celebration.

Fireworks in Collier County will be held.

Council members brought up the fact that Collier County-owned Sugden Regional Park in East Naples hosts Fourth of July fireworks displays nearby.

They pointed out that since there are only a few hundred parking spaces available there, it is illogical to assume that everyone who would have attended the city’s fireworks would instead attend the county’s celebration.

Blankenship stated, “I don’t know how city people will actually get there.”

It was emphasized by City Manager Jay Boodheshwar that seeing the fireworks is not required to be done in the park.

He said, “The thing with fireworks is that they go up in the air. “You’re not required to be there,” she said.

Despite the cancellation of the fireworks, the city still intends to hold its annual Fourth of July parade downtown. It will run from 10 AM till 12 PM.

The original story can be found at Naples Daily News

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