REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Staff Request for City Council Direction on the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration
Report
BACKGROUND
Historically, the City of Santa Clara has sponsored an All-City Picnic and Fireworks Extravaganza at Central Park on the Fourth of July. Due to budget constraints in FY 2021/22, the City eliminated the fireworks component of the Fourth of July celebration. In 2022 and 2023, the City offered a Fourth of July All-City Picnic at Central Park, featuring activities, food trucks, and family-friendly entertainment.
In 2024, the City sought to include fireworks as part of the Independence Day community celebration. Due to construction and safety concerns at Central Park, the July 4th event was relocated to Mission College. Because similar site conditions persisted at Central Park, the event was again held at Mission College in 2025. The partnership with Mission College provided use of campus facilities and available staffing, free public parking, access to event facilities, and campus security. In addition, the Mission College location enabled a partnership with Great America to share fireworks costs and deliver an enhanced fireworks display for the benefit of the community.
In 2025, the City Council expressed interest in returning the event to Central Park in 2026. Pursuant to City Council direction provided in December 2025, staff conducted a community survey to gather feedback on past experiences and future preferences for the Fourth of July celebration. The survey was open from January 12 through January 21, 2026, and received 424 responses, which equates to more than 21 hours of public comment. Staff promoted the survey by distributing flyers to residents adjacent to Central Park and posting the survey on City communication and social media channels. The survey results are included as Attachment 1 to this report.
DISCUSSION
Survey results (Attachment 1), together with feedback from the City Council, indicate majority support for hosting the Fourth of July celebration as an evening event with fireworks at Central Park.
• 70.9% of survey respondents prefer an evening event with entertainment and fireworks, and 29.1% prefer a family picnic with entertainment and activities.
• 39.4% of survey respondents prefer a 2-3 hour event, and 38.6% preferred a longer event (3-4 hours or more) that includes entertainment and fireworks at Central Park.
• 55.9% of survey respondents rated the Central Park location as the most important factor when attending the event, and 2.4% identified the Mission College location as most important.
In mid-January, Parks & Recreation staff met with the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments to assess the logistics and impacts of hosting the Fourth of July celebration at Central Park, including how the surrounding neighborhoods could be secured, programmed and operated to support the event. Staff also considered the event costs and staffing impacts on the Fourth of July, as the Police Department would be supporting operations at Great America in addition to the City’s potential Central Park event.
Based on the considerations outlined above, staff has developed three event options for City Council consideration, which will guide the planning of the 2026 Fourth of July celebration. The costs, staffing resources, access, security, community experience, and neighborhood and citywide traffic impacts vary by option.
Option 1: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as an evening event inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
Option 2: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as a daytime event inclusive of artisan vendors, traditional family activities, food and entertainment
Option 3: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration in Partnership with Mission College and California’s Great America inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
Option 1: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as an evening event inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
This option includes a welcome and flag ceremony; entertainment by live bands, community groups, DJ’s and high energy dance bands; and food and family-friendly activities in Central Park. The event footprint could include use of the meadow and grass areas along the lake, behind the library, the Pavilion areas, and across the creek, including the basketball courts, the meadow on the Kiely side of the park, portions of Kiely Boulevard, and potentially the Central Park School field. The event will feature a stage with a large sound system, inflatables, and other family friendly activities, and will include a 15 to 18-minute fireworks show as part of the five-hour event. Staff have confirmed availability for Santa Clara Vanguard to host a short concert. Live bands will provide entertainment throughout the event, and food trucks and potentially other food vendors will be available to the public.
Option 1 has an estimated total cost of $254,100, as listed in the table below. Costs include supplies, materials and equipment; entertainment and production; staffing from the Parks & Recreation, Fire, and Police Departments; mitigation and access coordination with Central Park School; procurement and permitting for fireworks; security; encroachment and associated event permits; and site rehabilitation. These estimates are preliminary and subject to change.
|
Option 1: Fourth of July at Central Park with Fireworks |
|
Cost Item |
Estimated Cost |
|
Staging and Lighting |
$5,000 |
|
Music & Entertainment |
$15,000 |
|
Portable Fencing |
$7,000 |
|
Portable Restrooms |
$5,000 |
|
Private Security |
$25,000 |
|
Fireworks |
$50,000 |
|
Fireworks Permit |
$4,800 |
|
Outdoor Special Event Permit |
$3,300 |
|
Event Supplies |
$19,000 |
|
Parks & Recreation Staff (Overtime and As-Needed) |
$30,000 |
|
Marketing |
$500 |
|
Children’s Activities |
$1,500 |
|
Encroachment Permit |
$4,000 |
|
Santa Clara Police Department Staffing |
$30,000 |
|
Fire Inspections and Medic |
$4,000 |
|
Central Park School Repairs (fence construction, sod replacement, etc.) |
$50,000 |
|
Total |
$254,100 |
While Option 1 offers a full-scale, family friendly Fourth of July celebration, hosting the event at Central Park requires careful planning to address operational and logistical challenges. Park-adjacent neighborhood traffic will be controlled for resident-only access and traffic measures on surrounding streets will be designed to mitigate congestion, maintain emergency access, and ensure safe traffic flow throughout the area consistent with measures used with past, similar events at the park, to be updated with any lessons learned. Phase I construction of the International Swim Center Project and the Central Park Entrance and Access Project (Attachment 2), along with the fence at Central Park School and the Magical Bridge Playground, will reduce the overall event footprint. The smaller footprint will require the use of Keily Boulevard, the Community Recreation Center parking lot, and Central Park School site to accommodate the anticipated number of participants.
Fatjo field needs to be used for the fireworks operator, with a designated fallout perimeter including pathways and parking areas between the Tennis Center and International Swim Center. The Central Park Entrance and Access Project effects the Pavilion Lot and pathways leading to the Pavillion. Carpool, rideshare drop-off and bike parking areas can be established near the library, and the City can seek support from neighboring properties including Saint Justin’s, Santa Clara High School, and First Baptist Church of Santa Clara for additional parking.
Access to Central Park, including portions of Keily Boulevard, will be secured with fencing to facilitate multiple security check points at the event perimeter, similar to the Mission College approach in 2024 and 2025. The City will need to coordinate with the Santa Clara Unified School District to establish a use agreement for access to Central Park School’s blacktop and fields.
Option 2: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as a daytime event inclusive of artisan vendors, traditional family activities, food and entertainment
This option proposes hosting the event in Central Park as a daytime event featuring artisan vendors, traditional family-oriented activities, food, and entertainment. A daytime format would be less operationally cumbersome while still providing a meaningful and inclusive community Fourth of July celebration.
The event footprint will extend across multiple areas of Central Park, including Fatjo Field, the large meadows behind the International Swim Center, the lake area, and spaces adjacent to the library, excluding areas under construction. This layout will allow attendees to circulate throughout the park, supporting a larger crowd and reducing congestion. Permitter fencing and security checkpoints could still be implemented as needed. Additionally, a daytime event will limit the logistical challenges and costs associated with fireworks, help mitigate traffic impacts and allow the celebration to be delivered within the current budget allocation. There are no known challenges with this event option.
Option 2 has an estimated total cost of $121,300, as listed in the table below. Costs include supplies, materials and equipment; entertainment and production; staffing from the Parks & Recreation, Fire, and Police Departments; security; encroachment and associated event permits; and site rehabilitation. These estimates are preliminary and subject to change.
|
Option 2: Fourth of July at Central Park (Daytime Event) |
|
Cost Item |
Estimated Cost |
|
Music & Entertainment |
$15,000 |
|
Portable Fencing |
$7,000 |
|
Portable Restrooms |
$5,000 |
|
Private Security |
$25,000 |
|
Outdoor Special Event Permit |
$3,300 |
|
Parks & Recreation Staff (Overtime and As-Needed) |
$30,000 |
|
Marketing |
$500 |
|
Children’s Activities |
$1,500 |
|
Fire Inspections and Medic |
$4,000 |
|
Santa Clara Police Department Staffing |
$30,000 |
|
Total |
$121,300 |
Option 3: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration in Partnership with Mission College and California’s Great America inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
This option proposes hosting the event in partnership with Mission College and California’s Great America, inclusive of entertainment and a fireworks display, similar to past events. While Mission College successfully hosted the City’s Fourth of July celebration for the past two years, survey results indicate limited community support for returning to this location in 2026.
Mission College offers several operational advantages, including two permanent stages, significant parking and crowd capacity, and the ability to accommodate an enhanced fireworks show within a modern venue. Hosting the event at this location allows Central Park construction projects to proceed without risk of interruption or delay. In addition, the campus provides consolidated staffing resources, no direct impacts on surrounding residential neighborhoods, and a controlled, built environment that supports a safe and cost-effective fireworks program with reduced equipment rental needs and lower overall safety concerns.
Both Mission College and California’s Great America have expressed continued interested in collaborating with the City to deliver a celebration inclusive of entertainment and fireworks. The event could be further enhanced through additional food vendors and increased family-oriented activities.
Option 3 presents a low-risk delivery model, shared resources and reduced rental requirements and has an estimated total cost of $154,000, as listed in the table below. Costs include supplies, materials and equipment; entertainment and production; staffing from the Parks & Recreation, Fire, and Police Departments; security; encroachment and associated event permits; support from Mission College and California’s Great American, and site rehabilitation. These estimates are preliminary and subject to change.
|
Option 3: Fourth of July at Mission College with Fireworks |
|
Cost Item |
Estimated Cost |
|
Music & Entertainment |
$15,000 |
|
Portable Fencing |
$7,000 |
|
Portable Restrooms |
$5,000 |
|
Private Security |
$10,000 |
|
Event Supplies |
$10,000 |
|
Parks & Recreation Staff (Overtime and As-Needed) |
$30,000 |
|
Marketing |
$500 |
|
Children’s Activities |
$1,500 |
|
Fire Inspections and Medic |
$4,000 |
|
Santa Clara Police Department Staffing |
$30,000 |
|
Mission College |
$16,000 |
|
California Great America |
$25,000 |
|
Total |
$154,000 |
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(e) (Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land) as it consists of minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment. The proposed 4th of July event is consistent with such allowable temporary uses. The proposed project is also categorically exempt from CEQA per CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 as a Class 23 exemption: the proposed project presents uses that as consistent with the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose, with no “unusual circumstances” for this event as compared to previous events.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost for Option 1 (Central Park evening event with fireworks) is $254,100. The estimated cost for Option 2 (Central Park daytime event without fireworks) is $121,300, and Option 3 (Mission College and California’s Great America event with fireworks) is $154,000. For reference, the City’s total cost for the 2025 Fourth of July event held in partnership with Mission College and Great America was $94,300
The Parks and Recreation Operating Budget includes $53,000 allocated for the Fourth of July event, including materials, services and supplies, overtime, and as-needed costs. In addition, funding includes $10,000 from the FY 2025/26 EdgeCore sponsorship and approximately $3,000 from the remaining FY 2024/25 EdgeCore sponsorship, for a total of $66,000 available in FY 2025/26 for the 2026 Fourth of July event. Staff also anticipates potential funding including $75,000 from SVP’s event sponsorship allocation, and a Fireworks protection grant from Santa Clara County for $5,000, subject to the appropriation of funds, bringing the total estimated funding for the 2026 Fourth of July event to $146,000.
Sufficient funding is available to support Option 2. There is a funding gap of $108,100 for Option 1 and a gap of $8,000 for Option 3. For Options 1 and 3, staff will continue to pursue additional funding sources, including potential sponsors, as well as opportunities to absorb costs within the existing budget and any available funding from the $1.0 million appropriation for 2026 special events.
Once an option is chosen, cost estimates are further refined, and additional funding sources are confirmed, staff will return to the City Council with any necessary budget amendments through a Monthly Financial Report.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the Finance Department, City Attorney’s Office, Fire Department and Police Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council determined that any of the proposed options is categorically exempt under CEQA as a Class 23 exemption (a proposed use consistent with the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed) and direct staff to (1) proceed with one of the options below for the Fourth of July event and (2) return to the City Council with any necessary budget actions to implement that recommended option.
1. Option 1: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as an evening event inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
2. Option 2: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration at Central Park as a daytime event inclusive of artisan vendors, traditional family activities, food and entertainment
3. Option 3: Host the 250th Anniversary Fourth of July Community Celebration in Partnership with Mission College and California’s Great America inclusive of entertainment and fireworks
4. Option 4: Alternative event identified by the City Council
Staff
Prepared by: Kimberly Castro, Recreation Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino Director, Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 4th of July Community Celebration Survey Results
2. Map of Central Park Entrance and Access Project