High water could force city to move planned July 4 activities to Arena Park

Organizers of Cape Girardeau's July 4 festivities will decide next week whether a large fireworks display over the Mississippi River and other events will need to move because of river flooding.

Julia Thompson, the city of Cape Girardeau's parks and recreation director, said if water levels do not look likely to recede by July 4, the evening's fireworks display, a U.S. citizen naturalization ceremony, the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America award presentation and planned performances by the municipal band will move to Arena Park.

Organizers plan to survey the river and make a decision Wednesday, which is the last day the company providing the fireworks for the display can be notified of a change.

The city still plans a 15- to 18-minute display -- longer than in years past -- even if there needs to be a location change, Thompson said.

Floodgates along the riverfront in downtown Cape Girardeau closed this week as heavy rains pushed the river above flood stage, and the area could see more than 3 inches of rain today into Saturday as the remnants of a tropical storm that made landfall in Texas move northeast.

The floodgates block access to a walkway and seating along the riverfront that will be covered with water should the river reach its predicted crest of 44 1/2 feet Tuesday morning. The area also is under a flood warning, and the National Weather Service upgraded its flood prediction for the area from "moderate" to "major" on Wednesday.

The water level at the downtown floodgates must fall below 35 feet at the Themis Street gate and 37 1/2 feet at the Broadway gate before the gates can be opened.

A long-range river forecast issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday showed the river at Cape Girardeau falling below flood stage around June 30.

Fireworks displays and other events were held at Arena Park from 2009 to 2013. The fireworks display returned to the riverfront last year.

eragan@semissourian.com

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410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO