Annapolis Capital Punishment

The City of Annapolis is announcing the schedule of festivities to celebrate July 4th, 2009. Please note pedestrian and vehicular traffic restrictions during the afternoon and evening events.

WHAT: Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks

WHEN: Saturday, July 4, 2009

WHERE: West St., downtown Annapolis, Annapolis harbor, and surrounding areas.

WHO: City of Annapolis and July 4th Annapolis Inc., Committee Chairman, Matthew Pipkin

EVENTS SCHEDULE: At 6:30 p.m. SHARP, an Independence Day Parade will proceed through the City's Downtown area, beginning on Amos Garrett Blvd., and then right on West Street, around Church Circle, down Main Street, left on Randall Street, and disbanding just past the Market House. Strict security measures are in place for parade participants. Questions regarding parade participation should be directed to the Recreation and Parks Office, 410-263-7958.

BAND CONCERT: At 8:00 p.m. a performance by the United States Naval Academy Band will take place at Susan C. Campbell Park at City Dock.

FIREWORKS: At approximately 9:15 p.m., the fireworks will be launched from a barge in the Annapolis Harbor. Boat restrictions are in place. Please contact the Annapolis Harbormaster’s office at 410-263-7973 for more details.

VIEWING AREAS (Parade): Anywhere along the parade route will provide a good view of the parade, particularly along inner West Street and Church Circle and all along Main Street, and the Market Space. Spectators are urged to respect crowd control zones established by the Annapolis Police Department.

VIEWING AREAS (Fireworks): Generally, the best viewing areas from City Dock will be at Susan Campbell Park. Views from Main Street and the Harbormaster's office area will be partially obstructed. Other suggested areas include public spaces Northeast of the Severn River, any of the street-end parks facing Spa Creek, and aboard your favorite boat in the Annapolis harbor. The Spa Creek Bridge will also be closed to traffic beginning at 9:00 p.m. to create a spectator pier overlooking the harbor for an unobstructed view of the fireworks.

The Naval Academy will have a very limited public area available for viewing that will be accessible only via Gate #1 by the USNA Visitor Center. No access to athletic fields will be permitted. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., Gate #1 will be closed to all vehicles. No other USNA gates will be open to the public (vehicular or pedestrian) for fireworks viewing.

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT SECURITY: Due to heightened security awareness, the US Naval Academy will require visitors (16 years of age and older) to show valid photo identification (i.e. driver’s license) upon entrance to the Naval Academy. NO alcoholic beverages or fireworks (including sparklers) will be permitted. Pets will also be prohibited from entering the Naval Academy grounds.

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION: Many parking restrictions will be in effect (see below) in order to expedite the movement of the anticipated crowd of as many as 50,000 people. Parking will be provided at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium off Rowe Boulevard. A shuttle will be provided by the City of Annapolis from the Stadium to Downtown (Lawyer’s Mall) and return; this shuttle will operate from 4:00 p.m. until Midnight. Enter the parking area at the Navy Stadium at Gate 5, follow directional signs. There is a $5.00 charge for parking at the stadium; the shuttle to downtown is free.

IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION NOTE: Following the event, shuttle buses will operate on a circular route from Lawyer's Mall (College Avenue in front of the Maryland State House) to the Naval Academy Stadium, until all who wish for transportation have been accommodated.

SPECIAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES: To accommodate the Fourth of July parade, Amos Garrett Blvd. and Constitution Ave. will be closed at 4:30 p.m. so that units participating in the parade may assemble. At approximately 6:30 p.m., West Street beginning at Amos Garrett Blvd to Church Circle, Church Circle and Main Street will be closed until the parade has been completed.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. and extending until approximately 10:30 p.m., parking will be prohibited and violators may be towed from the following areas:

City Dock
Main Street
Randall Street
Market Space
Cathedral Street between West and Franklin Streets
Both sides of Severn Avenue between First and Burnside Streets
East side of First, Second and Third Streets between Severn and Chester Avenues
South side of Chesapeake Avenue and Chester Avenues between Riverview Ave and Burnside Street.
Bay Ridge Avenue between Sixth and Burnside Streets.
Bembe Beach Road from Awald to end.

No Parking zones are posted in order to accommodate emergency vehicle access during a time when the area is heavily congested due to large crowds gathering for the fireworks and to facilitate safe, timely egress for spectators from the Eastport Peninsula after the event. Violators will be towed.

In addition, vehicular traffic into the north side of the Eastport Peninsula will be restricted between 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; pedestrian traffic will be permitted. The Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to traffic at 9:00 p.m.

Vehicular traffic will be denied access to the Downtown area beginning at 5:00 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. Roadblocks will be set up at Sixth Street and Severn Avenue to deny access to the Downtown area via the Eastport (Spa Creek) Bridge. Roadblocks will be set up at the following Downtown locations:

King George Street and College Avenue
Prince George Street and College Avenue
North Street and College Avenue
Church Circle and Main Street
Duke of Gloucester Street and Conduit Street
Duke of Gloucester Street and Green Street
Duke of Gloucester Street and St. Mary's Street
Duke of Gloucester Street and Compromise Street
All other streets contained within the boundaries of the United States Naval Academy, College Avenue, Duke of Gloucester Street and Compromise Street will be closed to all but residents of the area.

Traffic will be allowed to flow down Duke of Gloucester Street from Church Circle and into Eastport until 9:00 p.m. when Duke of Gloucester Street will be closed to ensure pedestrian safety and to facilitate the movement of the crowd on foot exiting the area following the fireworks display.

CLOSING OF DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND MAIN STREETS: In order to expedite the movement and clearance of pedestrian traffic, Duke of Gloucester Street and Main Street will be closed at approximately 9:00 p.m. and remain closed until approximately 10:00 p.m.

Feeder streets to Duke of Gloucester (Charles, Conduit and Market Streets) will also be closed at Duke of Gloucester. Conduit Street will be closed between Main Street and Duke of Gloucester.

NOTICE TO BOATERS: The drawspan of the Eastport (Spa Creek) Bridge will be closed to boat traffic from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Because of the anticipated crowded conditions, boaters are urged to select their preferred viewing area anchorage early and are also warned to avoid the 1,000 foot SAFETY ZONE around the fireworks barge. Please note: immediately after the fireworks, the barge will be underway to clear the harbor. All boaters are urged to heed the instructions of the various safety and law enforcement officials which will be on the waterways to include the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Natural Resources Police, the Annapolis Police, the Annapolis Fire Department, the Annapolis Harbormaster, and others.

SAFETY (and some common sense) PLEASE: The use of fireworks (including sparklers) is prohibited on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. During the July 4th events, citizens are asked to refrain from using any fireworks in the downtown area. Also, the firing of pyrotechnics and flares from spectator boats and land areas is not only illegal; it presents a frightening safety hazard. Please show proper respect for your fellow boaters and their property and refrain from such a dangerous practice.

A WORD ABOUT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: The consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets and sidewalks of the City is prohibited; further, NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES are allowed on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy.

UP TO DATE INFORMATION: Please tune to AM radio1620 and/or WNAV 1430 for event and parking information.

DONATIONS STILL NEEDED: Businesses and residents supplement the budget to provide the funds for the 4th of July fireworks display. Those wishing to help defray the costs for this community event are urged to send their donation to:

July 4th Annapolis Inc., c/o First Citizens Bank, 890 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401

Donations may be tax deductible.

For more information: Jane Schlegel, Assistant with the Mayor’s Office, City of Annapolis, 160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, (410) 263-7796/(410) 263-1183; or e-mail: Jschlegel@annapolis.gov.