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Guide To 2012 Detroit Fireworks

DETROIT (WWJ) - The party is getting started in downtown Detroit in anticipation of  Monday night's 54th annual Target Fireworks along the Detroit River.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the shores of the Detroit River to enjoy the display which feature more than 10,000 pyrotechnic effects, are launched from three barges in the Detroit River and can be seen for miles.

Pyro-technician extraordinaire Patrick Brault is bringing in some goodies from Spain he said will have a longer-lasting effect in the sky.

"The Spanish Willow is the only reason why they're better than your average fireworks, because they use a type of charcoal, a type of carbon that's only produced out of a specific tree that grows in southern Europe," said Brault.

The show, which begins promptly at 10:06 p.m., will be choreographed to broadway music organizers say will be meaningful to Detroit

For those who plan to attend, the best bet is to get in place before 6 p.m. when police begin closing streets and access from freeways. Hart Plaza will close once it reaches capacity.

Get all the important details, including best places to watch and where to park, below:

Viewing Areas

The following locations have been identified as the best viewing sites:

Hart Plaza

• Entry to Hart Plaza will close once it has reached desired capacity.

• No tents allowed.

• No alcohol, pets, or contraband (weapons, knives, etc.) will be allowed.

• Flames or fires are prohibited, and cooking is prohibited.

• Reserving an area in excess of the number of people currently in the group is prohibited.

• Coolers and backpacks will be searched.

Belle Isle

• Belle Isle will still be accessible for normal activity on June 25.

• On Sunday, June 24, the ordinance that limits access to Belle Isle after 10 p.m. will be enforced. No overnight parking or camping will be allowed on June 24.

• Access to Belle Isle begins at 6 a.m. on June 25 until desired capacity is reached. At that time, parking will be allowed on Sunset around to the Strand. No parking will be allowed around the Scott Fountain.

• Parking on the Casino paddock is $10 per car and $20 per recreational vehicle.

• Beginning the evening of Sunday, June 24 until Monday, June 25 at 6 a.m., these streets will be closed: From the Message Board on Sunset, down Fountain Dr., around the Fountain and out the Strand, Casino Way to Sunset, and Picnic Way to the Strand.

• 10' x 10' canopies with no sides are allowed. Canopies larger than 10' x 10' are not allowed.

• Grilling must only take place in designated areas.

Detroit RiverWalk

• East of Orleans – No vehicular traffic will be allowed, only pedestrians.

• RiverWalk, from Orleans west to Third (Joe Louis Arena), will be closed at 1 p.m.

• Reserving an area in excess of the number of people currently in the group is prohibited.

• No alcohol, pets or contraband will be allowed.

• Coolers and backpacks will be searched.

• Flames or fires are prohibited.

• No tents allowed.

Street and Freeway Closures

The Detroit Police Department reserves the right to request closure of the freeways and surfaces streets earlier or later, depending on the volume of vehicle traffic.

The following traffic changes will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m.:

• No northbound or southbound traffic will be admitted onto Woodward Avenue between Fisher Freeway and Congress except for emergency vehicles, D-DOT and SMART bus coaches.

• Jefferson Avenue will be closed to eastbound and westbound traffic between the Chrysler Freeway (I-375) and Griswold, except for emergency vehicles. All other eastbound vehicles will be routed north onto the Chrysler service drive.

• West Jefferson from Cobo Center westbound will be closed. Parking will be prohibited on West Jefferson, on Civic Center Drive and on Atwater to St. Aubin.

• Outbound traffic will be routed on West Jefferson from the Joe Louis Arena garage to Rosa Parks Boulevard; traffic will then proceed north on Rosa Parks to the freeways.

• Traffic on Gratiot Avenue between I-375 and Randolph will be routed one way northbound only.

• Traffic on Brush between Lafayette and Madison will be routed northeast onto Gratiot or east onto Madison.

• Monroe Street, between Randolph and Woodward Avenue, will be barricaded and closed. Traffic on Monroe between Randolph and I-375 will be routed to travel eastbound only.

• Third Street at West Jefferson will be closed to the public and restricted for emergency vehicle use.

• Fort Street traffic between Cabacier and Rosa Parks Boulevard will be restricted to residents of the Riverfront Towers Apartments/Condominiums.

• Eastbound traffic on Fort Street will be allowed to turn right onto Griswold and proceed to the Lodge Freeway.

• Traffic on Trumbull Avenue between W. Fort and Fisher Freeway will be routed to travel northbound only.

• Traffic on Larned and Congress will be allowed to flow in respective directions, with no southbound turns except vehicles en route to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel via Randolph.

• Michigan Avenue traffic will be westbound only.

• All traffic proceeding south on Griswold will be directed to the Lodge Freeway, via Congress.

• Eastbound Lafayette traffic will turn right at Griswold and proceed to westbound Congress to northbound Lodge freeway.

• St. Antoine traffic flow will be one way northbound from Atwater after the fireworks display.

• Woodbridge, Franklin, and Atwater between St. Antoine and Rivard will be one way, eastbound throughout the evening.

• Rivard will be one way northbound from Atwater to Lafayette after the fireworks display.

• E. Grand Blvd. will be used for outbound traffic from Belle Isle. Belle Isle traffic will proceed northbound on East Grand Boulevard and eastbound on East Jefferson.

• No parking on West Jefferson between 23rd and St. Anne.

• All the main streets – Michigan, Grand River, Gratiot, E. Grand Blvd. and W. Grand Blvd. – will remain open to allow motorists access to freeways. Woodward will remain open north of the Fisher Freeway service drive.

• Beginning at 4 p.m., surface streets south of Jefferson between Rivard and Chene will be closed to all vehicles but open to pedestrians only. These areas will be swept by the Detroit Police Department, and all vehicles present will be towed.

• Beginning at 6 p.m., freeways will begin to close.

• There will be no vehicular traffic south of Jefferson from Third to Jos. Campau.

Municipal Parking

Motorists are advised to observe parking restrictions. Parking violators will be ticketed, and in some instances, vehicles may be towed.

Motorists will be ticketed for improper parking (vehicles within 20 feet from crosswalk, within 15 feet from an intersection, within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic control device, and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant) and for parking in designated zones -- such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lane, no parking zones or no standing zones.

The Municipal Parking Department also will not enforce parking meters.

Parking Facilities and Lots

To accommodate parking for individuals attending the Fireworks, MPD will offer a $5 rate at the following city-owned garages and lots

• Ford Underground Garage
30 E. Jefferson
6 a.m. - 1 a.m.

• Joe Louis Arena Garage
900 W. Jefferson
8 a.m. - 1 a.m.

• Millennium Garage
432 W. Congress
6 a.m. - 1 a.m.

• Premier Garage
1206-08 Woodward Ave.
24 hours

• Cadillac/Farmer Lot
1025 Farmer
6 a.m. - 1 a.m.

Fireworks viewing from any parking facility and tailgating are prohibited. For more information, call 313-221-2500 or visit www.detroitmi.gov/parking.

Transportation

Detroit People Mover

The Detroit People Mover will operate from 6:30 a.m. until midnight on June 25.

Due to the early closures of the Cobo, Millender and Renaissance centers, trains will bypass these facilities on June 25 beginning at 3 p.m. There will be no public access to these People Mover stations. All other People Mover stations will remain open and receive train service until midnight.

The fare is 75 cents per ride, and children ages five and under ride free. For more information, call 313-224-2160 or visit www.thepeoplemover.com.

DDOT

The Detroit Department of Transportation will add extra bus service to several routes on June 25, starting at 6 p.m. To see the complete list, click here. (.pdf format)

Towing

Towed vehicles within the downtown area will be held at 2121 W. Fort near Rosa Parks. Vehicles towed on Belle Isle will remain on the island. Tow lots close at 1 a.m. The fee for towing is $75.

Curfew Enforcement

The city will actively enforce a citywide curfew requiring that all minors age 17 and under be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (with identification). Minors will be allowed to travel to and from work or organized sports.

The curfew is in effect from 6 p.m. on June 25 until 6 a.m. on June 26. Minors in violation of the curfew will be issued a ticket. The parent or guardian also may receive a parental responsibility violation ticket.

Lost Children

Parents can find lost children in the following locations:

• Downtown/Hart Plaza - Hart Plaza in Lower Level Office
313-628-1150

• Belle Isle - Harbormaster on Inselruhe and Riverbank
313-628-2061 or 313-628-2062

• Southwest Area - Roosevelt Park at the Southwestern Police District
4700 W. Fort Street -- 313-596-5300

Homeland Security

Residents must take steps to ensure their family is prepared for a possible emergency. Important items to have ready include:

• A battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, medicines, non-perishable food, and first-aid supplies.

For more information on family preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.

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