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Lansing Park Superintendent Steve Colt says that parking at tonight's fireworks in Myers Park may be more restricted than usual.  In past years swarths of lawn have been reserved for fireworks parking.  But because of unusually heavy rain, Colt says the grass is likely to be too wet to handle parking without causeing major damage to the park.  Parking is always available at the Lansing schools, and free shuttle buses will run continuously to get people to the park.

"I hear it's going to be beautiful on Friday," Colt says.  "Even if it is we're probably going to super-restrict traffic down there.  Everybody's yards at home will probably be dry.  The pavement will be dry.  The sun will be out and the sky will be blue, but the grass at Myers Park is wet."

The annual Independence Day celebration has attracted hundreds of visitors to the park, the lake and surrounding areas.  The festivities begin at 6pm with food and music.  A live band plays until dark, when the fireworks begin.  They are shot from adjacent Salt Point.  Fireworks coordinator Dennis Griffin says that this year's show will be bigger and better thanks to particularly generous donations last year.


With heavy rains Myers Park is particularly susceptible to flooding.  Last august flooding at the park was so bad that ducks were seen swimming on the lawn.  Flooding has even caused the park to be closed at times.  That is not happening today, however, and while there will be less parking in the park itself, the weather is expected to be perfect for the fireworks.

Griffin saaid yesterday that it is likely that it will not be possible to park on the grass.  But he added that he was doing everything to make it as easy as possible to get to the park, and added the shuttle busses will run as late as necessary to get everyone in and out as smoothly as possible.

Each year parking is available at the school parking lot, and busses shuttle from the lot to the park and back until around 1pm.  There is no charge to ride the bus, which is also paid for by donations.

"We can't park the way we usually do there," Colt says.  "There's a perfect option: park at the schools and ride the bus down to the park."

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