By JOE LoTEMPLIO
PLATTSBURGH — People can find alternative sites to view the City of Plattsburgh's Fourth of July fireworks, but it might require a little planning, flexibility and patience.
The city will be hosting a fireworks display at dusk on Saturday at the City Beach complex. Viewers can enter the beach parking lot for $5 per carload. Walk-ins are free.
The beach undoubtedly will provide for the best viewing site, as it will be nearly right underneath the rocket's red glare.
But in previous years, some people have complained about the fee and the lengthy time it can take to exit the beach and return home.
For those folks, there remain a few popular unofficial sites to watch the city's fireworks.
Wilcox Dock, off Cumberland Avenue, is a near-perfect site for viewing, but space there is limited.
There is also a small, city-owned area next to the dock area that the public can use.
But the employee park at Georgia-Pacific Corp., right next door, will not be available to the public due to liability concerns.
Also, the large area across the street from Wilcox Dock, owned by Church Oil, will not be open to the public.
Private residences along the lake offer good viewing — if you know someone who will invite you over.
The city's new waterfront park at the end of Dock Street, just north of Plattsburgh Boat Basin, is also a possible viewing site, although it may be a bit far from fireworks and is still untested in that regard.
The Macdonough Monument park across from City Hall has seen many people gather to watch fireworks in the past, but the results have not been favorable now that the display is held at City Beach; trees and distance have proven to be the main obstacles.
The park at the base of the Champlain Monument at the mouth of the Saranac River offers a slightly better view from the Macdonough Monument but is still less than optimal.
Further north on Cumberland Head, there is a stretch of Cumberland Head Road of about 150 yards — just past the 490 block of homes — that features spectacular viewing areas. But parking spaces along the road are limited, and viewers will have to contend with traffic.
If the City Beach lot gets full, overflow traffic will be directed to the adjacent Cumberland Bay State Park beach. Cars will be charged $7 at the State Park.
Mayor Donald Kasprzak said City Police will be on hand to direct traffic in and out of the beach complex and through the Cumberland Head four corners.
He said he is looking forward to a successful and enjoyable holiday.
"Wherever people go to watch the fireworks, I am confident that they will be respectful of their friends and neighbors and of all property."
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
