SEBASTIAN — The event park between the Indian River Lagoon and Indian River Drive will be used for children’s activities during Sebastian’s annual Fourth of July event, the Sebastian City Council decided Wednesday night.
The Sebastian Lions Club made the pitch to the council, asking for permission to set up bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo and a mechanical bull ride in the open space. Doing so would free up the parking lot located between Indian River Drive and the Hess gas station – known as the CavCorp lot – for some event parking.
Lions Club member Dr. Norman Meyer assured the council that the activities would be cleared from the field before spectators would gather to watch the fireworks display.
Councilwoman Andrea Coy asked about cleanup from the petting zoo, to which Dr. Meyer said he would be sure animal messes would be picked up.
Councilman Jim Hill said – to be absolutely clear – spectators would have the field, no deflated bounce houses would remain in the park as the fireworks watchers began to gather.
“Totally clear and clean,” Dr. Meyer said.
Vice Mayor Don Wright said having the children’s activities at the event park was a good idea and supported the request.
Councilman Jerome Adams, who was absent from the meeting, provided his comments to City Manager Al Minner, who in turn presented them to the council. Adams raised a concern about the city’s liability in the event of an accident due to the children playing close to the water’s edge.
Coy reminded the council and the audience that children ought to be supervised by their parents – not just dropped off at the kid zone.
The council voted unanimously to change up the layout for the Fourth of July event, which will start with a parade at 8:30 a.m. The route starts at 1805 Jackson St. and heads south on Indian River Drive to Riverview Park.
