Fireworks in the 419
The City of Toledo will present a fireworks display on Saturday, July 2 at 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Toledo. The Presenting Sponsor of Fireworks in the 419 is Owens Corning. Supporting Sponsors include the City of Toledo, Metroparks Toledo, ConnecToledo, Destination Toledo, and Downtown Toledo Development District.
TARTA will run special events transportation from both Franklin Park Mall (bus shelters on Royer Road) and the Miracle Mile Shopping Center (4925 Jackman Road), with buses leaving at 9 p.m. and heading directly downtown. Trips returning to those sites will depart 20 minutes after the end of the fireworks display, with buses lining up at Jackson and N. St. Clair streets.
In addition to special transportation, TARTA customers will also be able to ride regular fixed route service to the area before the fireworks show. Customers can check times for routes 2, 19, 20 and 22 (from Franklin Park) and routes 17 and 26 (from Miracle Mile) at tarta.com/routes.
TARTA service will be available until all attendees that used our service to the event are returned safely to their parked vehicles.
TARPS paratransit service riders will also be able to secure trips home from downtown until 11:20 p.m.
All trips on TARTA vehicles remain zero-fare through July 31.
Food trucks will be set up along N. St. Clair Street, with tables and chairs available in Levis Square Park.
Before the Fireworks:
Marine Traffic
- The Coast Guard and other law enforcement organizations will be enforcing maritime rules on the Maumee River to include:
- Extended “No Wake Zone” for boaters on the Maumee River near downtown between the I-280 Glass City Skyway Bridge and the Railroad Bridge upriver of the High Level Bridge.
- Marine traffic prohibitions in the Exclusion Zone designated by buoys near the fireworks shoot site adjacent to International Park.
- Marine traffic prohibitions in the established reduced channel near downtown for the exclusive use by Emergency Marine Traffic.
- Boaters should take it slow and safe around vessels that are anchored to minimize wakes.
- After the display, departures will be escorted by marine patrol.
Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic:
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge will be closed to vehicles at approximately 9:00 p.m. It will remain closed until traffic has cleared the area after the fireworks. Barricades will be placed at key intersections on both sides of the river in the vicinity of the bridge to prevent access to this area. Pedestrians will be permitted on the King Bridge.
Summit Street between Washington and Cherry will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 9:00 p.m. in the inbound directions into downtown. This will require eastbound Jackson Boulevard, eastbound Adams Street and eastbound Jefferson Avenue to be closed at St. Clair Street.
Front Street between East Broadway and Main will be closed to vehicular traffic at approximately 9:45 p.m.
After the Fireworks:
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge will open to boat traffic after pedestrians clear the area. The King Bridge will open to vehicular traffic after the boat traffic clears under the bridge and pedestrians clear the area. Designated traffic signals at key exit locations will be put on a flashing mode to facilitate outbound traffic movement.
Summit Street will be reopened to vehicles after the pedestrian and vehicular traffic clears the area after the fireworks. Eastbound Jackson, Adams and Jefferson will reopen at St. Clair at this time also.
The High Tower and Edison Garage on Summit St. and ProMedica Garage on Jefferson: Vehicles parked in these garages will be held until pedestrian traffic is cleared on Summit St. Law enforcement has anticipated 11:00 p.m., for traffic to be able to vacate these garages, about a half hour to be held in the garages post - fireworks.
Vehicles parked in the Port Lawrence Garage and Superior Street Garage will be exiting from the structures as directed by law enforcement officers to minimize delay of the traffic flow on the roadway.
Tips for the Public:
- There is great viewing from both sides of the river. Park on the side of downtown closest to your home or next destination after the fireworks: if you live in North Toledo, park on the north side of downtown; if you live in West Toledo, park on the west side of downtown, but if you wish to cross the river you should park on the side of downtown from which it will be easiest to leave. This cannot be emphasized enough. The cross traffic associated with the vehicles trying to get “through” downtown may cause gridlock!
- Parking only in the designated paved parking areas.
- Please be considerate and do not park in a restricted area. Tow trucks will be on duty to remove vehicles illegally parked prior to and throughout the events.
- Be patient when exiting the downtown area.
- Please do not block intersections when coming to or leaving the downtown area. Blocking intersections only adds to the amount of time that people will have to wait.
- Please obey the law enforcement officers directing you.
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