The Peoria and East Peoria Riverfronts will host a couple hundred thousand people Saturday night. No one knows exactly how many will gather on both sides of the waterfront to see the massive fireworks display. But the Peoria side will have some different boundaries.
Peoria Police Lt. Steve Roegge says the clock-tower, circle-drive area at the foot of Main street past Martini’s is fenced off. "That gate is for the safety of the workers that are going to be back in there making sure we have the integrity of the wall. The biggest thing is we don’t want anybody near the wall because the River will still be up. But that wall is there to make sure everybody is protected from any of the water that has comes through,” Roegge says.
The Peoria Police command center will be set up behind the fence at the clock tower.
Grills and fireworks are prohibited on the East Peoria and Peoria Riverfronts. Careful use of sparklers are allowed on the Peoria side. Sparklers are not allowed on the East Peoria side. Police on both sides of the river are encouraging patience when exiting. The East Peoria exit time is expected to be up to two and half hours. The Peoria Riverfront exit time is expected to be up to 90 minutes.
Hear the full interview and get the details from Peoria Police Lt. Steve Roegge. WMBD 1470's Ed Hammond and Public Radio's Tanya Koonce talked with Roegge on the Peoria Riverfront.