The Fourth of July weekend passed with few problems for law enforcement or firefighting agencies in Riverbank, but brought a record crowd to Jacob Myers Park at the Stanislaus-San Joaquin County line.
Park hosts estimated more than 4,000 people crowded into the riverside park on that Saturday, the largest attendance ever at a city park, said Parks and Recreation Director Sue Fitzpatrick.
"They said there was no room to walk on the beach or for their golf carts to drive on the grass," she noted.
Officials closed the gates at 11 a.m. when parking reached capacity. But visitors sill parked along the road up on top and walked into the park.
A further indication of the numbers, park personnel collected 65 bags of garbage that Saturday and were still collecting on Monday morning.
The crowd was mellow, however, and there were no incidents requiring police presence.
"We hired a sheriff's deputy for stationing at the park and we had an extra park aide plus the park hosts of two couples," Fitzpatrick said.
The days before and after Independence Day brought normal attendance for this time of year. There was an estimated 1,300 there on Friday when the gates were closed at 3 p.m. and about 1,500 people on Sunday when the parking lot reached capacity at 1:15 p.m.
"Other parks in the city were also well used over the weekend," Fitzpatrick added.
Firefighters reported few problems with fireworks.
"It was extremely quiet, a good weekend (from a firefighter's point of view), said Battalion Chief Mike Wapnowski of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.
Park hosts estimated more than 4,000 people crowded into the riverside park on that Saturday, the largest attendance ever at a city park, said Parks and Recreation Director Sue Fitzpatrick.
"They said there was no room to walk on the beach or for their golf carts to drive on the grass," she noted.
Officials closed the gates at 11 a.m. when parking reached capacity. But visitors sill parked along the road up on top and walked into the park.
A further indication of the numbers, park personnel collected 65 bags of garbage that Saturday and were still collecting on Monday morning.
The crowd was mellow, however, and there were no incidents requiring police presence.
"We hired a sheriff's deputy for stationing at the park and we had an extra park aide plus the park hosts of two couples," Fitzpatrick said.
The days before and after Independence Day brought normal attendance for this time of year. There was an estimated 1,300 there on Friday when the gates were closed at 3 p.m. and about 1,500 people on Sunday when the parking lot reached capacity at 1:15 p.m.
"Other parks in the city were also well used over the weekend," Fitzpatrick added.
Firefighters reported few problems with fireworks.
"It was extremely quiet, a good weekend (from a firefighter's point of view), said Battalion Chief Mike Wapnowski of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.
