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July 4 on the Parkway: Jubilation and vigilance

With more than 700,000 people expected Saturday on the Parkway for Independence Day festivities, city officials say they are focused on keeping everyone safe.

Welcome America fireworks explode over the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on July 4th 2012. ( Ed Hille / Staff Photographer )
Welcome America fireworks explode over the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on July 4th 2012. ( Ed Hille / Staff Photographer )Read moreEd Hille / Staff Photographer

With more than 700,000 people expected Saturday on the Parkway for Independence Day festivities, city officials say they are focused on keeping everyone safe.

"There has been a lot of preparation and coordination to make this a safe and enjoyable event," said Michael Resnick, the city's director of public safety. "People should come out and have fun and be vigilant. If anything seems out of place, please report it to 911 or any police officer."

Those officers will be easy to find, with a strong police presence set for the events. As they do every year, city officials will have both uniformed officers on the ground and other work happening behind the scenes, said Everett A. Gillison, chief of staff to Mayor Nutter and the deputy mayor for public safety.

"There's things you will not see. And because you won't see it, I'm not going to tell you what they are," Gillison said. "But we are fully prepared, we're fully engaged with our counterparts all over the country, and we're definitely prepared here in the city."

There have been no specific threats to Philadelphia, Gillison said.

City officials expect more than 700,000 people to attend the Wawa Welcome America! festivities, which include the Party on the Parkway from noon to 7 p.m. and the Philly 4th of July Jam concert from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Philadelphia's own Roots are headlining the concert, joined by R&B singer Miguel and country crooner Jennifer Nettles.

Organizers have suggested there will also be surprise performers. Other musical acts on the event's website are MKTO, Zella Day, and Twin Ghost.

Fireworks will end the event, bursting above the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

To accommodate the event, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 a.m. to midnight, and the section from 20th to 25th Streets will remain closed for cleanup until about 5 a.m.

The city will also set up a "limited-access perimeter" from 18th Street to 25th, stretching from Race Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, from 5 a.m. to midnight. The area will be closed to all but event participants and residents.

Many streets also will be closed throughout Center City for other July Fourth events, including a Celebration of Freedom ceremony from 10 to 11 a.m. at Independence Hall and an Independence Day parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Old City.

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