As fireworks tents pop up around Wyandotte County in advance of the Fourth of July, there are always questions from residents about whether it’s legal to discharge fireworks, when can fireworks be discharged and what public fireworks events will be available here.
Public fireworks displays in Wyandotte County
There are some community fireworks events coming up in Wyandotte County that residents may attend.
• A fireworks display will be held about 9:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Pierson Park, South 55th and Douglas, Kansas City, Kansas. This event is sponsored by the Turner Recreation Commission, Aerial FX and the Unified Government Parks and Recreation Department. Visitors are asked not to park on the left side of the street at the park. Outside fireworks are not allowed in the park or on school district property. Those attending may bring lawn chairs or blankets. This event is free and open to the public.
• The Bonner Blast will be from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the Kelly Murphy Park at 129 Elm St., Bonner Springs. This event is sponsored by the Bonner Springs Parks, Recreation and Senior Center and the city of Bonner Springs, Kansas. A Little Miss and Mister Firecracker Pageant and ice cream social will begin at 8 p.m. Pre-registration for the pageant is available at Bonner Springs City Hall. A City Band Concert will be at 8:30 p.m. at the park. The fireworks display will be about 9:45 p.m. Those attending should bring a lawn chair or blanket.
• The T-Bones will offer post-game fireworks on July 3 and 4 at T-Bones Stadium, 1800 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The baseball games start at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and the opponents will be the Sioux Falls Canaries. There is a charge for tickets.
• Sporting KC will include a fireworks display after the match with the Los Angeles Football Club at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. There is a charge for tickets.
Safety encouraged when discharging fireworks
Residents of Kansas City, Kansas, are allowed to discharge approved fireworks between July 2 and 4, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., according to Edwin Birch, Unified Government spokesman, and safety is encouraged.
Birch stated that it is illegal to shoot fireworks from, on or under a vehicle. It is illegal to shoot fireworks on any public road, alley or sidewalk, within 150 feet of a fireworks stand or within 100 feet of a gas station.
The Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department urged residents to be careful when using fireworks and recommended these safety tips.
• Purchase fireworks from reliable sources.
• Have a responsible adult in charge, especially when children are around.
• Prepare a safe environment outdoors for shooting off fireworks. Areas should be clear of combustible materials such as dry grass and wood.
• Have water readily available such as a garden or hose or water bucket.
• Never position your body over the fireworks while lighting them.
• Do not shoot or point fireworks at people or animals.
More rules about discharging or buying fireworks
While individuals can shoot off fireworks only from July 2 to 4, local fireworks stands can sell fireworks from June 29 to July 4, according to the ordinance. Also, hours of fireworks stands are limited to 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Also under the local ordinance, no one under 16 can buy fireworks.
For violating the local codes, fines can range from $500 to $1,500, or jail time of up to 90 days, or both, according to the fireworks ordinance. There are stricter fines for selling, possession or discharging fireworks not approved in the ordinance – a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, or 90 days in jail, or both, according to the ordinance.
Many consumer-grade fireworks are allowed in Kansas City, Kansas.
Fireworks that are not allowed here, according to the ordinance, include bottle rockets, sky rockets, missile-type rockets, unmanned aerial luminary; sky lantern, Chinese lantern, sky candle and fire balloons.
A complete list of the approved fireworks and those that are not allowed, along with other regulations, are located in the ordinance, online at
https://library.municode.com/search?stateId=16&clientId=11215&searchText=Fireworks&contentTypeId=CODES
NOTE: This story above was from 2019.
So basically the folks who set off fireworks in the intersection of 10th and Locust in KCK and the groups of people who do so in the playground/parking lot at T. A. Edison school after 11 PM every 4th are in violation of the ordinance. Since we often have to get into our street at Midnight due to retail work schedules we have to go through the folks at 10th and Locust and when we pull into our driveway most often there are still people in the school playground across the street.
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