The Fourth of July celebration in J.F. Gregory Park will be slightly different this year after a decision during Tuesday’s Richmond Hill City Council meeting.

The council decided during its regular meeting in City Hall to organize the annual July Fourth celebration after City Manager Mike Melton said the Richmond Hill Recreation Association was no longer sponsoring the barbecue for the event.

Council members agreed they did not want to see the event completely eliminated, especially since they are still sponsoring the fireworks.

“I think it’s a no-brainer,” council member Russ Carpenter said. “We’ve already spent the money for the fireworks, so why not? I probably went to that event in a stroller when it was still at Fort McAllister, and I would hate to see it go away.”

The council directed Melton to put together a program of entertainment, courtesy of Homes of Integrity, and food for the celebration.

Read more in the June 11 edition of the News.