After the Brainerd lakes area was told there would be no July 4 parade and celebration in Brainerd, a call went out for someone, a group or an alternative location for the annual Independence Day celebration. Baxter’s City Council stepped up on Tuesday and is taking over the celebration — the 2012 celebration at least.
Nancy Cross, the Community Action executive director made an appeal to the council, which granted her request to work with the city’s staff to pull off this unusual transfer from Brainerd to Baxter.
A parade route has been set that will not interrupt businesses or entire neighborhoods. The Baxter route, which was part of the approval given by the council, will have parade entrants running from Clearwater Road, down Golf Course Drive, south to Excelsior Road and north on Cypress Drive before cutting back to Clearwater.
With the July 4 parade approved, Cross said they have raised the $15,000 set as a goal for the fireworks celebration.
In addition, she told the council that the Mills family will provide the community-wide celebration the use of their lot by Target and The Body Works for entertainment that will include a stage area. (Fireworks will be launched at the dead-end of Cypress Drive.)
Our thanks to the city of Baxter, the Mills family and Cross for their contributions that will allow the celebration of our nation’s 236th birthday.
—Keith Hansen
Comments (14)
Add commentThank you Baxter and Mills.
Thank you Baxter and Mills. Should be a fun 4th this year! Excited!!
fireworks
Its very nice that Baxter offered to host for this year. But I'm confused or maye just not seeing the whole picture. BUT where will everyone sit to watch the fireworks? And as for the parade, whats going to be available for parking? Just thinkin ahead.
$83,704
It would be a shame if Brainerd's taxpayers decide to stop ponying up the money for an event held in Baxter.
A real shame. It's such a nice little event.
@JohnBrown
Again, you don't know what you are talking about because it's all donations funding the Fourth of July. Obviously you are part of the Brainerd JC's and you want to see a division between the two cities.... now that's a shame!!
Community Action and the 4th of July
From my understanding and limited knowledge; the Community Action program funding is in place not just to put on the awesome event that it has since 1976, but more importantly to help the entire Brainerd Lakes Area. Over the years it has helped many non profit foundations in the Brainerd Lakes Area get their start, keep them running, and educate them to keep them going which is its main focus. Community Action has put on the parade for many years before my time as a resident of the area, and I have taken part to help do fundraising to pay for the 4th of July Festivities each year which is a huge project. Some of the funds allocated by the Cities in the Brainerd Lakes Area are used to help with these festivities but as always the major percentage of funds for the festivities are raised from fundraising thru sponsorships from local businesses and residents from all of the Brainerd Lakes Communities. Up until this year, the downtown Brainerd area was always the most feasible place to have the celebration for all, but with the construction THIS YEAR challenges arose. Community Action assembled a meeting with an open inventation for anyone who wanted to help keep this celebration alive to come take part and brainstorm. As a result of suggestions from that panel, and other suggestions received, they worked with City officials from Brainerd and Baxter to come up with the best solution for a safe enviroment to host the venue. Collaboration between both cities police departments, and city councils to approve the location took place and the result is we have a spot to celebrate not as Brainerd's parade and Fireworks but as a community which up to this point is what the celebration has always been about. So in closing from everything I have read in the past few weeks, and in my opinion we need to thank all involved, Mayors from both cities, City Councils, Police Departments, Residents, Businesses, The Mills Family and Community Action all for working towards the common goal keeping the fun, safe, memory making celebration alive instead of one person or another trying to take credit, or ownership of the areas Community Celebration of Freedom.......just my opinion
Parade
You know I am sick and tired of everything going to Baxter. The schools, the retail stores now the 4th of July celebration. Why don't we just erase Brainerd from the map and call it all Baxter.
The celebration has been held in Brainerd for 36 years and now all of a sudden its moved to Baxter. Either our city council just does not give a rats behind about their own town or they are just plain ...... (you can fill in the blanks).
The Fairgrounds would have been a perfect place for the parade fireworks and the whole celebration. There would be plenty of room and parking. I for one will not be attending the Baxter 4th of July celebration. And while we are at it we might as well call Baxter the New 4th of July capital....
I just wanted to add one more thing Having a huge celebration in a parking lot next to target and the body works with all kinds of children etc. running around has anyone considered this runs right along a very busy highway.
Unfortunately the fairgrounds
Unfortunately the fairgrounds were unable to be a venue, in the beginning it was considered but due to restrictions on fireworks which led to a safety hazard it was ruled out.
Harsh reality, prove me wrong?
The Mississippi River divides two regions:
1. East Brainerd
2. West Brainerd and Baxter
1 - Very stable and not a lot of ups or downs, nor any growth with additions or subtractions
2 - Looking more like Bloomington, MN
1 - Stable, reliable
2 - Gang Busters or Bust
Please relay your observations?
A historical note?
Mills Motors was in East Brainerd for quite a few years.
Fireworks...
Better be at Don Adamson Field.
Any other venue, a dud....
Mills Motor
And look where they are now...
Mills Motor
And look where they are now...
RE: Unfortunately the fairgrounds
So setting off fireworks in the middle of Baxter's retail district is safer? I think it all boils down to our city council sucks they do nothing to improve our city and when they have a chance they strike it down.