Wauwatosa officials thought they had a plan to bring back the city’s July 4 fireworks in response to residents’ demands. That planning has since reverted to square one, with no viable location yet confirmed.
The city’s Civic Celebration Commission is now scrambling. The large volunteer body, which is responsible for assembling the nuts and bolts of city parades and other holiday observances, held a special meeting March 12 to review its fireworks options with city officials, but no city officials attended, other than two Common Council members. Most of the options the commission discussed are doubtful, considering city officials’ past statements of concern about public safety, fire risk and potential damage to property from a large fireworks display.
The city already has signed a $25,000 contract with a fireworks company for a July 4 show to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, according to the commission, but its recent meetings and discussions have failed to alleviate uncertainty over whether fireworks will be feasible for Wauwatosa in 2026.
“The residents of Wauwatosa have asked for fireworks, and we’re just trying to accommodate their request for fireworks,” Robert Brunow, the commission’s chair, told Tosa Forward News after the most recent meeting at City Hall.