Upland considering return of Fourth of July fireworks show

A city-sponsored fireworks show may be coming back to Upland after a five-year absence.

The City Council voted 4-1 on Monday to spend $40,000 to launch a major pyrotechnics aerial show on July 4, according to a city report, bringing fireworks back to the city for the first time since 2016.

Conditions for viewing the show would depend on COVID-19 restrictions for gatherings. The 15 to 20 minute show could be a “nonattended event” whereby residents could watch from their yards or from nearby shopping center parking lots from inside vehicles or from lawn chairs.

The city is exploring two locations: a Holliday Rock quarry in north Upland or the football field at Upland High School. A location for the event has not been nailed down. The last event, on July 4, 2016, was held at the high school. However, in 2017, the city and the Upland Unified School District canceled the show due to a $1 million football field turf renovation project.

“Undoubtedly fireworks have been missed in Upland for a few years,” Recreation Manager Jessica Gandara said at the meeting. “This would provide some normalcy and staff hopes it brings a sense of community.”

She would need to ink a contract with a site by early April, she said.

The cost would be for the pyrotechnics, marketing, staff time and extra police patrols.

If no attendance is allowed, logistics would be easier, she said. Money will be allocated from the city’s general fund, as a fireworks show was not in the city’s budget.

Mayor Bill Velto said the high school is not the best location and prefers one of the quarry sites. If the owner agrees, residents could drive and park at nearby retail shopping centers, he said on Tuesday. He said perhaps the city would invite food trucks.

For people who do not come out, Velto would like the aerial display televised or livestreamed.

City staff members will seek sponsorships to reduce the city’s $40,000 investment. Velto said. He said he’s already heard from a few business owners.

Linda Trawnik, president of the Historic Downtown Upland group, said it will be difficult to get sponsors for a nonattended event since businesses could not display a banner at a location, such as a stadium.

“It is very iffy,” she said on Tuesday.

She also said the timing may be off, since only last week an explosion from a cache of commercial grade fireworks tore through a home in Ontario, killing two occupants, while damaging several other homes.