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In a letter written on behalf of Cranford's fire, police and parks and rec departments, as well as the office of emergency management, Chief of Police Ryan Greco said providing coverage for the annual event at Nomahegan Park has grown more challenging.
Not everyone is happy with the decision, however. An online petition has been started urging the township to hold the Independence Day fireworks display on the actual holiday.
"This is one of the great family-oriented events that make Cranford so great. Changing the Fourth of July fireworks to July 2nd causes Independence Day (aka Fourth of July) to lose its meaning," the petition reads, in part.
Greco said, however. that the event has just gotten too big for Cranford's first responders to handle alone.
About 6,500 people attended last year, in addition to spectators who set up in areas outside the park, such as the municipal parking garage and in playing fields on Kenilworth Avenue, which can't be adequately monitored by police.
Because there were not enough police available, firefighters last year had to handle a few scuffles that had broken out at the event.
"In the course of reviewing prior displays, our professionals have identified concerns with the physical site of the display, as well as the level of staffing available during the display," Greco wrote.
Moving the event two days earlier would mean that Cranford could get assistance from county agencies, like the Union County Police Department, that will be busy on July 4th assisting at other celebrations in the county.
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