DETROIT (WWJ) – Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to turn out Monday night in Downtown Detroit for the 65th Annual Ford Fireworks display.
As crowds pack the streets for one of the biggest events of the summer, here are some things you should know before heading downtown.
Best viewing areas
City officials have identified Belle Isle, Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza as the best places to see the fireworks show.
Closed locations
These locations will be CLOSED:
• RiverWalk in its entirety including Milliken State Park/Harbor
• AB Ford Park, 100 Lenox
• Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson
• Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
• Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
• Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
• Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
• Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight
• Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale
• Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott
• Riverside Park
What to know about watching from Belle Isle
Belle Isle will be closed on Monday until 2 p.m., when the island will open to vehicle traffic until capacity is reached. The Island will open at 5 a.m. to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Anyone driving onto the island will need the Recreation Passport to enter. The passport, which is only needed for vehicles, may be purchased at the entrance for $13. The passport is $11 for out-of-state and international visitors for the day.
Once island capacity is reached, no additional vehicles will be admitted to the park. To get updates on when the island is full, text GEM to 80888.
• Belle Isle Park officials issued these reminders:
• Alcohol consumption is prohibited on the island.
• No tents or canopies are allowed.
• From 2 - 4 p.m., all vehicles will be directed to the paddock area (except those with valid ADA placards)
• RV parking will be on the paddock area near the Casino.
• Consumer fireworks are prohibited on the island.
Related
What to know about watching from Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza
Both Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are open to the general public, but pedestrian set-ups and/or gatherings will not be permitted before 2 p.m. on June 26.
Both plazas will be open until capacity is reached and you will not be allowed to re-enter after leaving. Those entering either plaza will be subject to security screening. Coolers and backpacks also will be searched.
• No tents, alcohol, drones, pets, or contraband (weapons, knives, etc.) will be allowed.
• Flames or fires are prohibited, and cooking is prohibited.
• Fireworks are not allowed.
• Reserving an area in excess of the number of people currently in the group is prohibited.
Curfew for minors will be in effect
The city will enforce its existing curfew for minors, ages 18 and under, that will be in effect from 8 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The curfew is in effect for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Rosa Parks Blvd., Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, the extension of Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.
Minors are welcome to view the fireworks from any approved public area, but must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult (age 21 or over) if they choose to view from within the curfew boundaries. Minors will be allowed to travel to and from work, school, church or organized activities.
Minors in violation of the curfew will be taken to the Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval. Minors will be held there until picked up by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian also shall receive a parental responsibility violation ticket.
Lost children
Parents can find lost children in these locations:
• Huntington Place (formerly TCF Center/Cobo Center), off Atwater Dr. in the atrium
• Detroit Police Department 3rd Precinct, 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (313) 596-5300
• Detroit Police Department 4th Precinct, 4700 W. Fort Street (313) 596-5400
• Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, 628-2100
What to know about parking downtown
The Municipal Parking Department also will not enforce parking meters after 5 p.m. on Monday, but drivers are still 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)
• Parking in front of fire hydrants and bus stops or blocking driveways and alleys.
• Parking in designated zones, such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lanes, no parking zones or no standing zones
The Municipal Parking Department will offer parking at these City-owned garages for $10:
• Ford Underground Garage (30 E. Jefferson) – 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Eastern Market Garage (2727 Riopelle Street) – 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Fireworks viewing from any parking facility and tailgating are prohibited. For more information, call (313) 221-2500 or go online to detroitmi.gov/parking.
If your vehicle is towed, it will be retrieved by the company that towed the vehicle. People are being told to talk with a DPD officer to determine the location of their vehicle.
Road and freeway closures to know about
The following traffic changes will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m. Monday:
• No northbound or southbound traffic will be allowed on Woodward Avenue beginning at Park and Witherell. Drivers may cross Woodward at John R/Clifford, Grand River, and State/Gratiot.
• All streets south of Fort and west of Woodward will be closed.
• All streets south of Congress and east of Woodward will be closed.
Beginning at 6 p.m., freeways will begin to close. *
* 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.
Getting around downtown on public transportation
The Detroit People Mover (DPM) will run from 7 a.m. to midnight, but DPM trains will bypass Huntington Place, Millender Center and Renaissance Center stations beginning at 2 p.m. These stations will reopen for regular service on Tuesday.
The Financial District Station is the closest DPM station within walking distance of Hart Plaza. It is the next station before Millender Center and nearest to Huntington Place from the street. More information can be found on the People Mover website.
For bus riders, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued these reminders:
From 5 to 11 p.m., the following eastside routes will end at the Bricktown People Mover Station on Beaubien between Congress and Lafayette. The affected routes are Van Dyke/Lafayette (#5), Gratiot (#6), Jefferson (#9), Russell (#40), Chene (#52), and Cadillac/Harper (#67).
Bus passengers may take the People Mover at the Bricktown Station to get to the Rosa Parks Transit Center exiting at the Times Square/Grand River People Mover Station. Passengers at the Rosa Parks Transit Center traveling east should board the People Mover at the Times Square/Grand River Station and exit at the Bricktown Station to board eastbound coaches staged on Beaubien near the station.
Woodward (#4) will lay over at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
DDOT employees in neon yellow vests will provide free People Mover tokens for passengers needing to reach the Rosa Parks Transit Center or buses on Beaubien near the Bricktown People Mover Station.
For more information regarding DDOT service, call (313) 933-1300.