Fourth of July fireworks display moved to West Side Park for 2025

For one year only, the City of Rhinelander’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display will move from its traditional home at Hodag Park to West Side Park.

The common council chose the west side venue on Monday evening, after city administration explained that the planned road and utility construction project in the Hodag Park neighborhood will make travel to the park for the annual Independence Day event extremely problematic.

According to city administrator Patrick Reagan’s report to the council, the Messer Street project, which includes several blocks around Hodag Park, is scheduled to get underway this spring and will result in a number of city streets being torn up during the Fourth of July holiday.

Reagan noted that the fireworks display company the city uses suggested closing off Coolidge Avenue and shooting fireworks off there, while keeping a lane of traffic open in case emergency vehicles need to access the area, however that location is both heavily wooded and swampy, which could be problematic for firefighters.

Other options mentioned included Nicolet College, Northwood Golf Club and the Rhinelander Country Club. However, all of those locations were considered too far from the city center.

The West Side Park option was mentioned because the Hodag BMX Club had a successful fireworks display last summer in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Also, Mayor Kris Hanus noted that having the fireworks display closer to downtown  could provide a unique opportunity for the  business community that traditionally sees the large crowd of visitors who assemble to watch the Fourth of July Parade leave the downtown district immediately after the last float passes by.

Reagan concurred, noting that cities set off fireworks displays because it’s patriotic and traditional but also to draw new visitors.

 “If you ask 50 different people, you're gonna get 50 different suggestions,” he noted. “You’re not gonna make everybody happy,  I promise you that. Whatever decision you make, someone is not going to like it.”

No matter which location was chosen for 2025, Reagan stressed that the fireworks display will absolutely return to Hodag Park in 2026, as it an “ideal” location for this type of event. 

As the discussion continued, alderman Tom Barnett asked the council to consider the potential impact on the west side residents, some of whom he said were upset by the BMX fireworks display.

“West Side Park is literally in my backyard, and when the BMX did their fireworks, I didn't get one single call from my constituents complaining about it at all,” responded council president Carrie Mikalauski. “A lot of the people in my neighborhood thought it was kind of cool to have it there, so I haven’t heard any negative feedback on when the BMX did that.”

Mikalauski then made a motion to approve West Side Park as the fireworks location for 2025. 

The panel unanimously approved the motion, however it was noted there will be no ground effects.

To watch the entire discussion, visit www.hodagtv.com.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].