Riverdale Park council weighs neighbors' objections to July fireworks at Riverside Neighborhood Park

A resident email asking town staff to reconsider fireworks planned for June 18 in Riverside Neighborhood Park prompted an extended council discussion about neighborhood outreach, timing and public safety.

Mayor Yin Yang summarized the correspondence from Liz Bolton and asked staff for a status update. Director Barnes said the centennial celebration plan included a short, approximately 10‑minute fireworks show, with a small gathering and music; Park & Planning had recommended Riverside Neighborhood Park after an earlier site was unavailable. Barnes said staff would conduct door‑to‑door outreach to affected homes and that staff had already coordinated with permitting and park police. He noted the town had paid a deposit for the pyrotechnics and that moving the date might incur storage or contractual fees.

Council members who had canvassed residents reported widespread concern. Council member Lingua said a neighborhood survey of immediate houses showed multiple homes with children, elderly residents and pets, and noted seven homes in an elder veterans’ housing cluster who could be sensitive to loud explosions. Council member Worsnott asked whether neighbors are typically consulted for events; Barnes said staff does not routinely solicit neighborhood surveys but would do so when staff expects impacts. Other members said they supported finding a less disruptive location if viable on short notice.

Several council members urged caution but stopped short of canceling the event. Council member Pho and Council member Smith said they would prefer finding an alternative location if staff can secure one quickly and suggested the council not indefinitely bar fireworks; others said that even moving the site within a few hundred feet might not allay concerns about noise and animals.

Director Barnes said staff would review the contract for options to delay the show and would report back to council (by email or at the next meeting) on whether the date or site could be changed without significant additional cost. The council asked staff to perform door‑to‑door outreach, to confirm permit conditions and to return with options for relocation or postponement.

Why it matters: The debate highlights a common local tension between townwide celebrations and immediate neighborhood impacts — particularly concerns for children, pets and veterans with PTSD — and illustrates how short procurement timelines and permitting constraints affect staff options.

Next step: Staff will scrub the pyrotechnics agreement, report whether the supplier will allow a different date without large fees, and notify council members of findings.