Mount Carmel Mayor Joe Judge is encouraging residents planning to attend the city's Fourth of July fireworks to use the designated public parking areas rather than Riverview Stadium.
Speaking Friday morning on WSJD, Judge said parking will once again be available in the junior league football parking area, along with additional grass parking nearby.
Judge said while some people may choose to watch the fireworks from Riverview Stadium, the city is not designating the stadium as an official viewing area this year.
He explained that under the city's liability insurance requirements, the stadium lights would have to remain on if the facility were officially opened to the public. Judge said those lights would significantly reduce the visibility of the fireworks display.
The mayor said city officials, including District #348 Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer, explored options to make the stadium available but were unable to satisfy the insurance requirements.
As a result, there will be no restroom facilities or other accommodations available at the stadium. Judge said anyone who chooses to watch the fireworks from there does so at their own risk and not as part of the city's official event.
Judge added that this year's fireworks show promises to be the largest in recent memory. The display is expected to last between an hour and 15 minutes and an hour and a half, with fireworks scheduled to begin around 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.