Archive for Friday, July 3, 2009
City shifting gears for this year’s July 4th activities
July 3, 2009
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Towercam set to show fireworks display
See the Lawrence Jaycee's fireworks display live on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6, to the sounds of patriotic music, through the Dale Willey Automotive tower camera on the roof of Lawrence City Hall. Enlarge video
Bicycle races, a food festival and a new spot to catch the fireworks show will bring changes to Lawrence’s traditional Independence Day celebration.
Starting off with the professional cycling event, the Tour of Lawrence, downtown will be the center of activity for the Fourth of July.
Later in the day, Watson Park will be host to the Lawrence Originals, an event that features live music and food and drink from 18 locally owned restaurants.
Watson Park will also be the best spot to catch the main attraction — the Lawrence Jaycees fireworks display.
After several years of crowds gathering at Burcham Park to watch the show, the Jaycees moved the display to Sesquicentennial Point at Clinton Lake in 2008. But many wanted the show to return to downtown, Lawrence Originals coordinator Constance Wolfe said.
“(Fourth of July) can be a ghost town around here. We wanted to bring some life back into the area, and we feel like the logical place to do it is the downtown,” Wolfe said.
This year, the crowd, which is expected to number in the thousands, can watch the show in the park area near Sixth and Kentucky streets. Bringing blankets, lawn chairs and bug spray is recommended.
With so much activity downtown, Wolfe said finding parking could be difficult. The closest lots to the fireworks display are on Vermont Street. To avoid searching for a spot, Wolfe suggests walking, biking or carpooling.
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3 July 2009
at 7:03 a.m.
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benmuggn (Anonymous) says…
Maybe you should just go back to having them set off at the ku football stadium like it was 25 yrs ago there was parking and plenty of seats. It also raised money for the next year event. yeah some people will sit on the hill. but those who really care will pay to go in the stadium.
3 July 2009
at 7:08 a.m.
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overthemoon (Anonymous) says…
watson park? that dinky little triangle at sixth/kentucky/tennessee?
3 July 2009
at 7:50 a.m.
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hodgesmom (Dayle Hodges) says…
The fireworks were always at the stadium when I was growing up. Yes, people always sat on the hill too, but many donated to the buckets that were passed around. There was always plenty of seating and parking. It was a family event that everyone seemed to enjoy.
3 July 2009
at 10:19 a.m.
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ylime3499 (Anonymous) says…
I grew up in a small town in central Kansas where the show was in our rodeo stadium… I never new that Lawrence had it at Memorial Stadium, and I think that would be the best place for it (to go back to).
3 July 2009
at 11 a.m.
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1029 (Anonymous) says…
overthemoon,
That “dinky little triangle” park is Robinson Park. Watson is the larger park between Tennessee and Kentucky south of 6th St.
3 July 2009
at 7:23 p.m.
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mcontrary (Anonymous) says…
And again, no place to view the fireworks and park nearby. When the fireworks were held at Burcham or across from Burcham, there was plenty of parking around the Rail Road Depot and you could get a good view from their parking lot or all along the bridge. It was fun and convenient. Whomever had the great idea of ruining a perfect set-up should be told their bright idea was a pretty dim one.
3 July 2009
at 8:55 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
I just drove down Mass and had several idiots on bikes cut in front of me and ignored stop signs. This happened at more than one intersection. No, these aren't the usual hippies riding around. All of these jerks were in their silly little outfits.
4 July 2009
at 9:50 p.m.
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pace (Anonymous) says…
I heard the kids bike races were great. Happy 4th to you all. I met a woman who lost her husband in Iraq three years ago. She said her family made a point of having a lot of fun today and wished everyone joy.