Lake Zurich trustee says Fourth of July fireworks show should not be obscured by trees

Concerns about how well spectators can view Lake Zurich's Fourth of July fireworks show have been raised by a village trustee.

Trustee John Shaw initiated a discussion about the Paulus Park pyrotechnics before the village board this week approved a three-year deal with Iowa-based J&M Displays not to exceed $27,000 annually. Officials said the fireworks will be paid from Lake Zurich's hotel tax fund.

Shaw said he's missed about a third of the Fourth of July show during the last two years, mostly involving fireworks not shot above trees, while he was sitting near the food vendors and the park and recreation department's building called The Barn. The fireworks have been shot from a lake barge since 2013.

"I'm just concerned," Shaw said. "We're trying to drive people to Paulus to partake in the family atmosphere and partake with the vendors with food and all that. And I don't want to see them (vendors) start not wanting to come partake and support us."

Lake Zurich Recreation Manager Bonnie Caputo said she's heard the complaints about the fireworks not going high enough above the tree line. Caputo said she's "pretty confident" J&M will stage a Fourth of July show more visible than what Five Alarm Fireworks Co. of Tinley Park produced last year.

"We're getting an additional thousand shells over the contract we had last year," Caputo said of the J&M deal. "They're very willing to work with us."

Fire Chief David Wheelock said the fireworks staging moved to the lake barge in 2013 to increase the safety zone. He said it's hoped J&M will find a spot on the lake that'll lead to improved fireworks viewing.

Wheelock said police closed Main Street in downtown Lake Zurich last year to accommodate spectators who wanted to watch the fireworks on the east side of the water in or near Breezewald Park.

"Certainly, the Promenade (and) Breezewald are exceptional views of the entire show," he said.

Plans call for J&M to fire 4,996 custom-made shells in 30 minutes. J&M has handled shows at Deer Park Town Center, Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove, the village of Hawthorn Woods and Ivanhoe Country Club near Mundelein.

If the pyrotechnics are postponed by rain July 4, the contract requires J&M to attempt the show July 5.