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Fort Lauderdale weighs drones and fireworks for July 4th; staff proposes pilot approach
Summary
Parks & Recreation presented cost and operational trade-offs between traditional fireworks and drone shows for Downtown Countdown and the Fourth of July, recommending the commission pilot changes and consider sponsorships; commissioners debated environmental, safety and tradition trade-offs and asked staff to pursue sponsorship and procurement options.
Parks and Recreation deputy director Amy Jean Baptiste told the commission that drone shows offer quieter, lower-debris alternatives to traditional fireworks but are directional and can cost more depending on timing and the number of drones. She presented recent local examples: a 200-drone show for Downtown Countdown and Starlight Musicals cost $20,000–$40,000 depending on season and sponsorship; the city’s Fourth of July offshore fireworks were listed in staff materials at roughly $140,500 for barge/tug and the pyrotechnic…
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