July 4 events go on at Whitewater Center without fireworks after permit rescinded

CHARLOTTE — If you were hoping to catch the fireworks show at the U.S. National Whitewater Center on Monday, you’ll have to make new plans.

Mecklenburg County has pulled all of the permits for the events on Monday and Tuesday. The Whitewater Center had planned a big fireworks display on both days to celebrate the Fourth of July. On Friday, we learned the county pulled the facility’s permit for both nights, and the events, which included yoga, races, and live music, would have to go on without the fireworks.

Seberta Morris lives a few minutes from the Whitewater Center in a neighborhood off of Belmeade Green Drive. She said she loves taking her family there and doesn’t understand why the fireworks permit was pulled.

“It was busy last year and it wasn’t a problem then, so don’t create some thing that’s not there,” she said.

The news comes after Charlotte’s police chief wrote a letter to the Mecklenburg County manager and the Charlotte city manager with an outline of lingering safety concerns from years past.

In the letter, Chief Johnny Jennings said there’s no plan for a large influx of traffic and no contingencies for stalled or blocked traffic. The center is prepared for 7,500 people but 10,000 are expected.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said they didn’t get to view the center’s plan, which appeared to have been copy and pasted from 2022. The Whitewater Center said it hired private security staff but hasn’t said how many.

Some neighbors said they are fed up with the traffic issue, but Morris said it’s been kept under control.

“Last year they had the police patrol, where they patrolled the entire neighborhood, where they got two tickets -- come in, come out -- and it wasn’t a problem then,” she said.

Channel 9 has reported on these safety issues in the past, including traffic problems from popular events and visitors trespassing onto neighboring properties.

>> If you’re looking for another place to watch fireworks, there are plenty of options in town. Click here to learn more.

(WATCH RELATED: 9 Investigates: Safety concerns surrounding crowds, traffic at U.S. National Whitewater Center)

9 Investigates: Safety concerns surrounding crowds, traffic at U.S. National Whitewater Center

©2023 Cox Media Group