As Greenbelt prepares to celebrate July Fourth, Public Works, especially, is busily preparing. This year the festivities at Buddy Attick Park will include a Greenbelt Museum art activity from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., a community drum circle from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., a performance from the Greenbelt Concert Band from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the much-anticipated firework display at 9 p.m. Brian Townsend, assistant director of operations with Public Works, says the department has been preparing for the day for a while. Some contracts are even signed a year in advance. It takes a huge amount of work, explains Townsend, who says that the administrative work began as early as August and the heavy lifting and physical work has been gearing up for a month.
Townsend says they don’t have a record of the number of attendees at past events. Though last year drew a substantial crowd, he estimates it wasn’t as robust as pre-Covid. This year Townsend expects the crowd to be as large or larger than 2022. After all the hard work for one of the bigger events Public Works is involved in, Townsend says, “We want people to come out and have a good time.” As in any large crowd, one should be respectful of others, cognizant of their surroundings and use common sense, he advises. Visitors are invited to arrive early, bring a picnic, walk the lake trail and enjoy the playground.
Traffic Control
Once the fireworks begin, there will be no inbound traffic allowed on Crescent Road from Kenilworth Avenue. When the fireworks are over, exiting traffic will be redirected outbound on Crescent Road toward Kenilworth Avenue. Traffic from Kenilworth Avenue will not be allowed onto Crescent Road until most cars have left the area. Motorists exiting the Beltway will not be allowed to proceed north on Kenilworth Avenue. Motorists heading for the Old Greenbelt area should take Greenbelt Road. These temporary changes in traffic patterns will be in place for the evening until the traffic supervisor determines that it is safe to resume normal use.
Parking
For those who live within walking distance and are able to walk, it is best to head to the park on foot. The parking lot at the lake will be reserved for disabled and elderly visitors, who must be on board the vehicle that is parking. Other vehicles will have to utilize street parking nearby. Regular parking signs should be observed and, in addition, temporary No Parking signs will be posted on streets surrounding the park. Vehicles parked in these areas should expect to be towed.
Safety, Security
A Greenbelt officer will be at the main entrance to Buddy Attick Park, with additional officers on foot throughout the area. The city reminds visitors that alcoholic beverages are not allowed within Buddy Attick Park and violators are subject to arrest. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome but for safety and security reasons, people carrying coolers and packages into the park may need to have them inspected.
Fireworks, including firecrackers, snakes, sparklers and bottle rockets are prohibited by law in Greenbelt and throughout Prince George’s County. Possession is an arrestable offense and penalties include fines up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.
First Aid Available
The Greenbelt Citizen Emergency Response Team will have a tent nearby, serving as a hydration station with cooling chairs and providing limited first aid assistance.
Worried about the weather? Call the weather and information hotline at 301-474-0646 for updates. Greenbelt Police Department asks people to not call the police dispatcher for fireworks-related information. Police telephone lines must be kept open for emergencies and other police-related concerns.