At Tuesday’s Chula Vista City Council meeting council members voted to bring back a Fourth of July fireworks show to the city after an eight-year absence.
Watching Independence Day fireworks in Chula Vista was once an annual tradition for thousands of families and South Bay residents, but the infamous economic downturn in 2008 that forced the city to drastically cut employees and slayed the city’s reserve funds ended the holiday celebration.
Previously the only viewing sites for fireworks in the South Bay were at National City’s Kimball Park and occasionally off the Imperial Beach pier.
But that’s supposed to change this year with the help of Local Media San Diego which is helping organize the fireworks and festival. Local Media San Diego, a San Diego-based broadcasting company compromised of local radio stations, is also footing some of the costs for the all-day event.
Chula Vista resident and Magic 92.5 Radio personality Xavier The X-Man said he pitched the idea to his bosses about forming a partnership with the city to resurrect Fourth of July fireworks in Chula Vista.
“I’ve seen fireworks when I first moved here and when they went away there wasn’t really a place to see fireworks,” he said. “It’s a homegrown thing; living in Chula Vista you kind of missed that.”
He said in years past he would drive around San Diego on the Fourth of July celebrating the nation’s independence. He said it would be good to stay home this year and celebrate the holiday with other Chula Vistans.
Anne Steinberger, Chula Vista’s marketing and communications manager, estimates the city’s contribution for the fireworks and festival to range between $15,000 to $20,000 for staff support as well as direct costs.
Steinberger said the city’s contributed costs can be offset by any sponsored funds raised. Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and Deputy Mayor Steve Miesen will spearhead fundraising efforts.
Casillas Salas said even though the city will spend $15,000 to $20,000 on the event the ciy still has to be financially wise.
“The economy is getting better; however we have to be cautious,” she said.
Steinberger said initially the city had explored hosting fireworks at the bayfront but because of environmental concerns the city chose the Olympic Training Center.
“The Port is putting together an EIR that will allow fireworks on the bayfront and include Chula Vista as a Port city but that won’t be ready in time,” Steinberger said. “So we turned to the Olympic Training Center.”
The Olympic Training Center was the site of the Eastlake Education Foundation’s annual fireworks show but that abruptly ended a few years ago.
In 2014 the city, to much fanfare, resurrected another holiday tradition, the long absent Starlight parade.
Casillas Salas said the city conducted a recent survey asking what types of things residents would like to see in Chula Vista. She said residents said they wanted to see more special events.
“We heard from the community that they missed having things like the Starlight parade and the Fourth of July fireworks,” she said. “So this is something that’s driven by the wishes of the people. It’s what they want to see in the community too.”
