Spectators Hope CR Fireworks will Return to Downtown

By Nicole Agee, Anchor/Reporter

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By Nicole Agee

Story Created: Jul 5, 2009 at 11:11 AM CST

Story Updated: Jul 5, 2009 at 5:10 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - For a second year, downtown Cedar Rapids was silent during the Fourth of July fireworks. Event organizers say safety concerns forced them to hold the show at Kirkwood Community College.
Some are worried the tradition will never move back.

"It would be nice to see them downtown again some year here," says Ryan Flood.

"It's always good to have the reflection of the fireworks on the water. It's Cedar Rapids, it should be downtown," says Sherri Ludlam.

"You wouldn't believe the number of phone calls and e-mails we get saying, why aren't they downtown. They've always been downtown, they need to be downtown and we agree," says organizer Russ Oviatt.

He says leftover flood debris still litters areas close the river, so it's not safe for thousands of people to be downtown after dark. But he and others say there are benefits to holding the show at Kirkwood. "Downtown it's a little crowded and everybody's trying to pack in dirty little areas. This is quite organized," says Alan Elmer.

"We can put on a much more dramatic show than we can down here where we can use about three inch shells," says Russ Oviatt.

No matter where you watch the fireworks, the meaning many took away is the same. "Great to be an American and free in the United States," says Ron Cichon.

Next Article Cedar Rapids Lands Low-cost Carrier with Frontier Flights to Denver

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