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Spectators viewing the annual community fireworks show from Pavillion Park have become increasingly concerned about a lack of visibility in recent years. In response, the city of Liberty Lake has booked a second show that will launch from the nearby Liberty Lake Ballfields.

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New city fireworks display creates double bill with traditional lake show
2/25/2015 1:01:48 PM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

For nearly a quarter century, Denise Coyle has been coordinating a July 4th fireworks display over Liberty Lake.  

This year, the traditional lake show will have some company on the Independence Day stage. 

The city of Liberty Lake will sponsor its own fireworks show as part of the annual July 4th community celebration at Pavillion Park, complimenting an entertainment agenda organized by Friends of Pavillion Park. City Council unanimously approved a contract with Western Display Fireworks Ltd. on Feb. 17, making the event official.

City Administrator Katy Allen said the decision to take on a fireworks show came about after the city continued to hear concerns about the visibility of lake fireworks from Pavillion Park.

"What evolved over the past several years, and was brought to a head last summer, was that the firework display was becoming less and less visible from Pavillion Park," Allen said. "Last year, a very large crowd assembled at Pavillion Park and the fireworks were not visible at all.  When attendees, donors and sponsors realized that you had to be near the lake to see anything, it created significant traffic congestion and other public safety concerns as well as very negative comments from attendees."

Coyle, who spearheads the lake show entirely through donations through the Liberty Lake Fireworks Fund, said news of the city's plans came as a surprise.

"Of course I was disappointed when I heard about it," Coyle said. "I know there's a lot of talk that's going on right now, but we just want to make sure people know that our show is going to be no different this year than it has any other year. We're going to make it a nice community event. Having a negative attitude about it doesn't do anyone any good. We all have to march forward. It will be a great day for everyone."

Coyle reconfigured the display several years ago in hopes of reaching the sight line over the park. Tree growth, she said, has made that accessibility increasingly scarce.

"The other thing is a lot of people at the park are sitting down in that bowl area in front of the pavilion, that also makes it difficult to see the show," she said.

In the past, the Fireworks Fund has collected donations during the Independence Day celebration at Pavillion Park. While that will not occur this year, Coyle remains hopeful that collections through the group's website, at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market, the July 4th parade and other avenues will carry the event.

Between the fireworks, insurance, ropes and buoys for the docks, advertising and other incidentals, Coyle said the event's budget runs right around $12,000. The city's contract with Western Display Fireworks is listed at $10,000.

"My biggest concern is that all the people who donated to our display last year may not donate this year," Coyle said. "Some people might say they don't want to pay if there are going to be free fireworks at the park."

Coyle has met with Allen and Mayor Steve Peterson to discuss the situation. Allen told attendees at the Feb. 17 council meeting that FOPP and Greenstone have decided to forward any donations received at the park this year to the Fireworks Fund. Coyle said she understood that FOPP, Liberty Lake Kiwanis and Greenstone - entities that have all contributed toward the lake show in the past - "are going to make a little larger donation toward the display than they did last year." 

"I believe that coordinating with Denise will ensure that we have a wonderful Fourth of July celebration," said Mayor Peterson. "She and her family will continue the tradition they have set of an annual fireworks display on the lake." 

Allen echoed Peterson's thoughts regarding the city's respect for the festivities south of Sprague.

"The 4th of July fireworks over Liberty Lake has been a long tradition," she said. "The event's longevity speaks to the community's support through their donations and sponsorship over many years.  Both the city and the original organizers from the lake have the same goal - to have a safe and fun celebration of our country's birthday. This will be our first year for us, and we can make adjustments in the future as needed."  

FOPP President Joe Frank voiced his support for both the lake show and the city's inaugural display.  

"I know there is some concern in the community regarding two competing shows, but I do not see it that way," Frank said. "I see it as one larger community show. The show over the lake has been a long tradition for our community, and we want it to continue to thrive, which is why both Friends of Pavillion Park and Greenstone will continue to support this show financially."

Coyle said crowds on the Lilac Lane side of the lake display should be able to see the Pavillion Park fireworks, but the majority - those from the fringe of the Liberty Lake Golf Course to the Liberty Lake County Park - will not have visibility. The city fireworks will launch from Liberty Lake Ballfields, just to the northeast of Pavillion Park. 

The roots of the lake display go back to the 1950s and Coyle's grandfather, Homer Neyland, who owned and ran Sandy Beach Resort. After a hiatus, Ross Scheidmiller was part of a team of five who brought the event back in 1990. Scheidmiller expressed concerns with adding another local show on the 4th.  

"I see issues with two displays," Schneidmiller said. "First, it would hurt fundraising for the lake display. Second would be coordinating the timing of the displays. It would be distracting and far less than ideal if the displays happened simultaneously. If they would go one after the other, which would go first?" 

Both events are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Coyle said "there might be some coordination" between the two demonstrations with the lake show planning for some larger illuminations early on that will be visible from Pavillion Park.  

Frank said having a pair of shows will bring a new dimension to the local July 4th festivities. 

"The Friends of Pavillion Park are extremely excited about the added 4th of July show," he said. "It will add a reason for people to come out for our 4th of July concert and stay for the fireworks show. Over the past few years, we have had a lot of negative feedback regarding not being able to see the lake firework show from Pavillion Park. I believe having two shows in our community will be a big draw to the region."

It's that draw that concerns Bruce Andre, who has lived near the lake since 1996. Andre noted that the influx of people from Pavillion Park after the July 4 concert to vantage points for the lake display has created issues with traffic and safety. He recalled the situation in 2005 when a man suffered a heart attack at a lakeside home and emergency vehicles struggled to get to the scene.

Andre has towed the barge out that is used for the lake fireworks launching pad the past couple years. He said one of the options that hasn't been discussed is bringing in temporary bleachers in order for more people to see the show over the lake.

Andre also expressed concern with the city's show originating from a dense residential area.

"I've never seen a major show that close to civilization," he said. "I just hope there's no wind that night."

As for the city starting its own fireworks tradition that coincides with the lake show, Andre said most people he's talked with "don't really have an opinion."

"To me, it seems like a lot of money for the city to expend," Andre said. "This doesn't seem like the best-directed use of city funds."

For her part, Coyle said she is focused on viewing the development with a glass-half-full mentality. 

"I want this to be a wonderful celebration of our country and the phenomenal place that we live," Coyle said. "The city really wants to put on their own display, and that's fine. We live in an absolutely wonderful community, and we can either take this bend in the road as a negative or a positive, and I choose to take it as a positive. It's not necessarily what I would like; it is what it is, and we're going to make it a positive." 


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