City Council considers spending $32K to save Ault Park fireworks

Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer
Ault Park has staged a Fourth of July celebration for 57 years.
Ault Park has staged a Fourth of July celebration for 57 years.

The city of Cincinnati could save the annual Ault Park Fourth of July fireworks event with about $32,000.

That’s one of three options city administrators put before Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday.

The annual holiday event – which volunteer producers earlier this year said they would cancel – could live on under three scenarios, City Manager Sheryl Long told council in a report on the Wednesday council agenda.

Options include:

  • Creating a new committee to produce and fund the event.

  • Turning the event over to Cincinnati Parks to produce, with a city budget of $32,495.

  • Assigning production to parks officials but asking community members to raise funds for the event.

The first option is “the most sustainable,” Long’s report said, “because it is a continuation of past practice.”

No council members commented on the report during the Wednesday meeting. It will now be considered by council's budget and finance committee.

If the city pays for the event – first staged 57 years ago – $13,500 would go for fireworks, with $5,000 for police, $4,100 for parks personnel, and $2,500 each for a stage and live music.

“The Ault Park Fourth of July fireworks is a rich and cherished Cincinnati tradition enjoyed by thousands each year,” Long’s report concluded.

But city involvement and funding would make Ault Park the city's de facto official July 4th celebration, she noted. “Consideration should be given to ensuring residents from across the city have the opportunity to participate,” she said.

The city currently produces its annual All-American Birthday Bash at Sawyer Point on the Saturday closest to July 4. The event, set for June 29 this year, is “intentionally centrally located, serving the entire community,” Long said.

Parks will support whatever option City Council endorses, Parks spokesman Rocky Merz said Wednesday.

"If any of the three options are selected, as is indicated in the report, Cincinnati Parks welcomes the opportunity to participate in efforts to see the event continue for future generations to enjoy," he said.

Organizers canceled the event, concerned about controlling traffic, ensuring safety and raising funds. After Parks made that news public in March, City Council member Seth Walsh asked the city manager to look at ways to save it.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Are Ault Park fireworks back on?

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