Chardon Fireworks Relocated – for Now
June 19, 2024 by Amy Patterson

Future of Show Remains Up in the Air

While Chardon’s Independence Day fireworks display has had a home at Chardon High School for decades, a few wrinkles — and a lot of yard litter — put a wrench in plans to keep them there this July.

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Organizers Ed Babcock and Dave Jevnikar suggested to Chardon City Council June 13 the show move to a new location at the end of Loreto Way, also known as Meadowlands Extension.

The fireworks display is scheduled for July 6, with a July 7 rain date.

Babcock and Jevnikar said the higher elevation will give everyone a better view of what could be the last Chardon fireworks show, as they are ready to retire.

They reminded the public the show is run by volunteers, not by the city.

“We’re running a zero budget this year. … I usually have a carryover (fund),” Jevnikar said. “It’s not the goal this year and we’re done.”

After some debate, council unanimously approved the move. Parking will be prohibited along Water Street and Meadowlands Drive during the fireworks show, and Loreto Way will be closed to the public.

Last year, the show was moved to the student parking lot east of CHS. Richard Gahr, who lives near the school on Chardon Avenue, said he was told that move happened because launching from the old spot could void the warranty of the school’s new roof.

Unfortunately, the student lot location led to some serious problems for the neighborhood.

“Last year, my entire yard was inundated with pieces of fireworks,” Gahr said. “I brought some of them to (Chardon City Manager Randy) Sharpe, who saw them, and some were as big as baseballs.”

Gahr said one firework landed on the son of a neighbor, who uses a wheelchair.

Mayor Chris Grau said the city listened to Gahr after the event last year and after extensive planning and research, found an area east of the CHS tennis courts in which fireworks could be set off without causing similar problems for surrounding residents.

But, Babcock and Jevnikar pointed out a major problem with the new location — it sits at a lower elevation than the show’s previous location, which was already lower than past shows.

“You’re saying (it’s) a little bit of a difference, but the shell goes to 210 (feet),” Babcock said. “At over 100 feet lower than where we shot it in the past, that’s half the height.”

Jevnikar said the new location will be visible by the whole city, due to its elevation, whereas the proposed CHS location might make the fireworks difficult to see, even from Chardon Square.

Some members of council were reluctant to lose the traditional CHS location where, during previous shows at the high school, boosters sold concessions before the fireworks began, but Jevnikar said attendance has waned in recent years.

Council members also expressed concern about public confusion, as the area is slated for a new housing development, as well as a new Meijer — meaning, if the fireworks show continues under new volunteers, it will likely not be held in the same location next year.

Council member Heather Means asked whether organizers had connected with management or residents of Chardon Place Apartments or the Chardon Healthcare Center, which both have frontage along Water Street across from Loreto Way.

Police Chief Scott Niehus said if either property wants to discourage members of the public from setting up on their lawns to watch the shows, they will need to post signs.

With the new site at a significantly higher elevation than previous years, Jevnikar and Babcock were confident the show would be visible from across the city.

Closer viewing could be possible in the nearby Walmart parking lot, Babcock added.

“(Jevnikar) did talk to the manager there. She said, ‘Fabulous, we can use all the traffic we can get.’ So she was happy with it,” Babcock said.

Earlier in the meeting, Grau addressed public feedback about the proposed Meijer store, after Law Director Ben Chojnacki said the city can regulate the use of property through zoning laws.

However, it cannot limit what an owner does within those laws, outside of potential risks to health or safety, Chojnacki said.

The city did not “reach out” to Meijer, Grau said, but does employ an economic development consultant firm, Retail Strategies.

“As long as they fall into place on all the regulations that we have and the correct use, then you don’t really have the ability to deny them,” he explained.