So, we tried a few new things at this year’s July 4th celebration, including the Mayor’s Picnic (free lunch for all attendees) and the addition of bouncy houses.
Just wondering … what did you think of the event this year? What should we consider adding in 2015, or taking away? Any other changes we should consider?
Post your comments below!
South Milwaukee Blog 
Love the fireworks as always in South Milwaukee…. The issue I have is the trash left behind from all the people that have no class… So sad that these same people are the first ones to complain if someone as much as steps in their yard, but yet leaves trash everywhere dispute trash cans everywhere… Guess money can’t buy class….
Changes, the changes id like to make is LITTER POLICE !….
Personally, ATMs would be nice for those who couldn’t get to one or found that they just didn’t bring enough with them.
.. Unfortunately, some of the items for sale were a lot more than expected and with 4 children, it was a compromise of what to get.
Thank you for the wonderful event. Its a step in the right direction. Let’s ask for a volunteer cleanup crew and get some of the attendees to help out so they are involved.
Thanks to Milwaukee County Parks employees and Friends of Grant Park volunteers who passed out trash bags, it was my impression that the waste stream wasn’t quite as thick as previous years. A regular trash pickup by county workers at the beach appeared to reduce the incidence of overflowing trash barrels. And with the incredible Scout troops and county workers picking up on the 5th, the park looked pretty darn good relative to how packed it was. Thanks to (a beleaguered) County Parks Dept working in sync with South Milwaukee.
I just wish the city would make up its mind and either either allow personal fireworks across the board or actually enforce the laws. Take a ride through any neighborhood and I’m sure you could find the violators.
Add a parade and some live music. Cudahy had a parade, music just before the fireworks, and had a huge crowd. They also increased their spend on the fireworks.
Just a thought, maybe we should merge with Cudahy on this event and rotate every other year as hosts. Half the needed resources, twice the funds.
We didn’t attend the day’s activities, for the first time since we’ve lived here, but drove our out-of-town guests around and saw so many — seemed like many more — celebrants in the park. We did attend the fireworks display, which, like past years, was rather boring until the last few minutes. Even though it would be a few minutes shorter, I wish the ‘bursts’ would be a little closer together. The way it is now, it goes, Whoosh, pause, explode. Long pause. Whoosh, pause, explode. Long pause. Whoosh, pause, crackle. Long pause. Etc. Someone with us timed the show at 37 minutes. Shortening it by 7 minutes, but use the same amount of fireworks would be better, IMO. The huge amounts of trash left by watchers has always just astounded and disgusted me. This year didn’t seem to be quite so bad, for whatever reason. I look forward to being able to attend the day’s events next year.
Thank you so much for the lovely events in the park this year. This is our 2nd year attending the park festivities and we thoroughly enjoyed the free picnic lunch and the bouncy houses. Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who made that happen. I really like the idea that another poster suggested about combining with festivities with Cudahy and alternate hosting every other year–that was a really clever suggestion. Perhaps the lunch (if it will be provided again next year) should be held in a different location instead of on top of a hill. It was not an issue for us, but there was an elderly man in front of us in line that required a walker to move around and he needed assistance to stand on the hill leading up to the pavilion. Just a thought. Our kids would love to see more bouncy houses so that there’s not a line. 🙂 Thanks again! Looking forward to next year!
I appreciate the city’s Fourth of July festivities and the effort and planning they require. We enjoy the events for kids early in the day and the fireworks at night. It looked like a whole lot of people partook in the Mayor’s Lunch…we did! I thought it was a nice addition to the day and that it went well for an inaugural run. Thanks to TASC Services for sponsoring it. It also looked like the bouncy houses were a hit. Thanks to Max A. Sass and Sons for sponsoring them.
I agree with jhayslett about the pacing of the fireworks. It reminds me of how they were done a few years ago…in more recent years, I think, the fireworks displays had a faster pace. Perhaps there’s some school of thought in pyrotechnics about making fireworks last longer by slowing their rate, but I have to say, I’m more a fan a faster paced show.
I’m glad the Fourth of July gives the city a chance to show off Grant Park..it is truly a gem…but, like some others who commented here, I wish people were more respectful and used the trash cans. That being said, in past years, the few trash cans I saw were often overflowing by the end of the evening. It seemed like there was less trash left on the ground, but I also didn’t notice overflowing garbage cans…perhaps there more garbage cans this year???