Macy's July 4 Fireworks Will Be Visible From Roosevelt Island This Year, First Time Since 2008 - Will Southpoint Park And FDR Park Be Open To Public For Viewing Fireworks?

For the first time since 2008, the 2015 Macy's July 4 Fireworks will be visible from Roosevelt Island this year.

Image From Macy's

According to this Press Release from Mayor deBlasio:

Macy’s and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that on Saturday, July 4th, the 39th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® will rumble to life over New York City, igniting the skyline over the East River with the nation’s largest Independence Day pyrotechnic display. This year, extending to two locations, the show will begin at approximately 9:20 PM and dazzle the shorelines of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with an unparalleled spectacle of color, light and sound set to commemorate the holiday with a very big bang!

America’s most explosive party will take place from two locations on the East River in midtown and within the South Street Seaport historic district. Brave, the theme of this year’s show, will fire more than 40,000 pyrotechnic shells during a 25-minute synchronized display. Designed in collaboration with PyroSpectaculars by Souza, the show will be fired from four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th Streets in Midtown and from one double-barge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Last year, we brought Macy’s incredible fireworks back to the East River – and this year, with barges up and down the river, even more New Yorkers will be able to take part,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This celebration will light up the sky for millions in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. There’s no question: this will be a dynamite 4th of July for New Yorkers across the city.”

“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are the nation’s premiere Independence Day celebration and we are thrilled to once again bring the City of New York a front row view to this one-of-a-kind nationwide spectacle,” said Amy Kule, Executive Producer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “With two locations, firing 1,600 shells per minute, this year’s show will cover a large stretch of the City’s famed skyline with incredibly vibrant color and fantastic effects...”

Click here for the full Press Release.

Here's the 2007



and 2008 Macy's July 4 Fireworks Celebration from Southoint Park (before there was a FDR Memorial).



From 2009 - 2013 the Macy's July 4 Fireworks were held on the Hudson River with no viewing from Roosevelt Island. In 2014, partially fulfilling a promise he made as Public Advocate, Mayor deBlasio and Macy's moved the fireworks to the East River. However, due to the barge placements south of the Williamsburg Bridge, the fireworks were not viewable from the Roosevelt Island/Queens/Upper East side waterfront. By adding firework barges upriver north of the Williamsburg Bridge, we on Roosevelt Island should have an excellent view.

Except last year, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) was very concerned about crowd control issues at Southpoint Park and FDR Park in the event the fireworks were visible from the southern end of Roosevelt Island. It is not known as of now if Southpoint Park and FDR Park will be open to the public to view the 2015 July 4 Fireworks.

The July 4 2007 Fireworks was the subject of very first Roosevelt Islander blog post.