Know the rules for reserving your fireworks viewing spot

With the 4th of July coming up, the City of Idaho Falls wants to remind people of the rules for reserving a spot to watch the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration fireworks.

Estimates indicate that Idaho Falls more than doubles in size as we celebrate the 4th of July with food, fun, music, games and the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration – the largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi. To make the day enjoyable for all, we encourage community members to celebrate in a courteous and neighborly manner.

There are many wonderful viewing areas available for both the parade and the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration. Following a few simple guidelines will ensure safety and help to preserve our public parks and facilities.

Reserving or marking public areas for the purpose of obtaining a viewing location for the parade or fireworks may not occur prior to 6 a.m. on July 4.
ANY items placed prior to 6 a.m. on July 4 will be removed and placed in the lost and found at the Parks & Recreation Department. (To retrieve any lost items, contact the department at (208) 612-8480 during regular business hours.) City offices will be closed over the weekend and on the 4th of July but will reopen on July 5.
DO NOT drive stakes into public property as they may damage sprinkler heads, pipes or other infrastructure.
DO NOT use materials to reserve public areas that may block or interfere with pedestrian access or vehicular traffic or block sidewalks.
To prevent damage to city parks and other public areas, it is important that items such as – but not limited to – blankets, tarps, and pop-up tents NOT be placed on the lawn prior to 6 a.m. on July 4.
Any green strip of lawn between the sidewalk and the street is city-owned right-ofway and therefore is public property. However, the property owner adjacent to that strip of land maintains it. Any damage to that area, such as damaged sprinkler heads, is the burden of the property owner. Please respect both public and personal property when viewing 4th of July activities in those areas.
DO NOT mark off sidewalks, grass and roadways with defacing material such as any type of paint or adhesive material such as duct tape.
Items placed on public property to designate a reservation are left at the owner’s risk and do not create a guarantee that the reserved area will remain available to the person or persons who reserved the area.
All items used to designate reserved areas MUST be removed by midnight on July 4.

For more information you can visit the city’s website.