Fireworks will no longer be set off over the Fox River in East Dundee because the debris they produce hurts the waterway and local wildlife, officials said.
The action taken this week by the East Dundee Village Board essentially ends the long-standing tradition of using a pedestrian bridge over the river for fireworks displays.
Community members and Friends of the Fox River raised the issue, saying the waste they produce ends up in the water, hurting the environment and the animals that live in and near the water. Beyond that, fireworks noise disturbs family pets and veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“We’ve had people come in and say they don’t want it over the river just because of contamination to the river,” Village President Dan Pearson said at Monday’s board meeting.
This year’s Fourth of July fireworks display, which the village is doing in conjunction with West Dundee for the 250th Declaration of Independence anniversary, will not be impacted by the board’s decision. It’s the last in which the pedestrian bridge near the North and Water streets intersection will be used.
In the future, only permits for displays held in other parts of the village or for drone shows, which can use the pedestrian bridge, will be issued, Village Manager Erika Storlie said.
As a rule, East Dundee doesn’t usually sponsor fireworks displays, this year’s Fourth of July show being the exception. Permits are issued to organizations or companies that sponsor or set up shows, such as the one sponsored by Bandito Barney’s Beach Club for St. Patrick’s Day.
“Do we want to move it to a different location in town or do we want to pivot and suggest an alternative, like drone shows?” Storlie asked the board.
There are other spots where shows could be held, including Fireman’s Park, 100 King William St., where displays have been set off in the past, or possibly the open lot east of Route 25, officials said.
“I like the idea of not being over the river for pollution reasons,” Trustee Andy Sauder said. But the village should also be sensitive to the noise issue by limiting shows to areas not close to residential neighborhoods, he said.
Banning traditional fireworks displays in favor of drone shows is one solution, but the latter are “more expensive,” Management Analyst Caleb Haydock said. The cost is dependent on “how many drones you have in the show,” he said.
According to village documents, “Traditional firework shows remain a cost-effective, crowd-pleasing option with strong public familiarity and long-range visibility. … Fireworks provide a high-impact visual experience and are less sensitive to weather conditions than drones. However, they present notable safety risks due to pyrotechnics, require a secure fallout zone, and generate smoke, debris and substantial noise.”
They also require more stringent permitting, fire/EMS coordination and post-event environmental cleanup, village officials said.
Drone shows are growing in popularity, in part because they are safer to people and the environment, but also because they can incorporate customizable animations, logos and messaging, allowing the village to tailor shows to a specific event or theme,” documents said.
But there are downsides, too, including the fact that they “tend to be less bright and dramatic from long viewing distances” and require Federal Aviation Administration permit approval, staff said.
Some municipalities have done drone shows, including Elgin, Schaumburg and Aurora. But Elgin also does fireworks shows on the Fourth of July and at La Fiesta de Elgin, both of which use the National Street bridge over the Fox River to set off the explosives.
Elgin spokewoman Josie Beecher-Crotty said the city is “aware of the broader conversation happening in communities along the Fox River, and it’s something we’ll continue to monitor as we plan future events.”
And just as they are in Elgin, fireworks displays are popular in East Dundee.
“I think a lot of people still like fireworks shows. They do get a good gathering of people,” Pearson said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
