Frederick’s 4th of July tips

Frederick’s 4^th of July celebration in Baker Park is expected to bring tens of thousands of people into the downtown area of Frederick. The Frederick Police Department would like to remind all those who attend to be mindful of the crowds and congested traffic. It is always important to be prepared for the weather, as heat related illnesses are not uncommon, especially for children and the elderly.

The crowd at Baker Park builds steadily over a period of many hours during the day, but all of those people who attend generally wish to leave immediately after the fireworks have concluded. The Frederick Police Department will make every effort to make your exit from the event area as smooth as possible, however please be aware that you may have to wait for an extended period of time to exit the area after the fireworks. The network of streets and highways around Baker Park were not designed for such a high volume of traffic and therefore you should anticipate significant delays and plan your itinerary appropriately.

The Frederick Police Dept. offers the following tips and reminders to ensure a good event for all:

1 - Park away from Baker Park and walk in (many streets will be closed). Parking in the City Parking Decks is highly encouraged and is free on July 4th.

2 - If you are not prepared to wait in your vehicle for extended periods of time in order to leave, consider leaving the event a little early, or 45 minutes to an hour later, to avoid the inconvenience.

3 - Be prepared to be directed to major routes out of the city that may differ from your original plan. Traffic will be very heavy immediately after the fireworks.

4- We highly discourage any motorists attempting to travel into the area of Baker Park at the conclusion of the event; all traffic will be diverted away from the park to major routes.

5- Please plan ahead and familiarize yourself with the area before you attend the event and realize that you may not be able to exit the area in the same manner that you entered. Follow the traffic direction provided by officers.

6 - DO NOT stop in traffic and ask a police officer for directions. This causes additional congestion and unwanted delays. Please remember that the primary concern of the officers is to ensure the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. Motorists who stop and ask for directions distract police officers from their job and jeopardize everyone’s safety.

7- If you absolutely must ask an officer for directions, please find a place to legally pull your vehicle over and wait until the officer finishes his detail or contacts you when he is available.

8 - Be prepared for the weather! Bring drinking water, sunscreen, handheld umbrellas, etc.

9- Report any suspicious activity to any police employee or call 911

10- NO DOGS ARE PERMITTED IN THE PARK ON JULY 4^TH.

Remember that PATIENCE is the key to a good event. Sounding horns and yelling will not help you leave any more quickly.

Any questions may be directed to Lieutenant Steve Tuel at (301) 600-2715 or Sergeant Wade Brown at (301) 600-2116.