Lake Wawasee Conditions

Help Keep the Big Shells in the Sky:
Fireworks Barge Replacement Campaign

A Tradition Worth Preserving

For decades the Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) has staged an Independence Day fireworks show that rivals many of the best. Families and friends gather on shore or cruise by boat to the center of the lake to watch the sky erupt in color, a summer tradition that makes Lake  Wawasee the lake we love.

To keep this tradition alive, we are launching a one‑time capital campaign to replace our aging fireworks barges so the show can continue safely and spectacularly for years to come.

Why We Must Act Now

Just this past show (2025), during transit to the center of the lake, we experienced several failures, including one that was critical:

• Truss failure: Two trusses, the steel supports on one barge, broke apart while carrying several 10‑inch shells.

• Emergency repairs: Crew members entered the water in the middle of a busy lake to make temporary repairs so the show could proceed.

• Program delays: Barge issues caused the program to stall at key moments, including the opening notes of the Star Spangled Banner.

Beyond last night’s incident, our fleet of ten barges (all but one are more than 25 years old) faces persistent problems:

• Safety hazards: slick, uneven decks and failing welds have caused injuries.

• Fire risk: wooden decking that frequently catches fire, including notable incidents in 2018 and 2021.

• Structural and logistical failures: recurring breakdowns threaten show timing and crew safety.

Our licensed pyrotechnic vendor has confirmed that beginning with the 2026 show they will not include the large eight‑ and ten‑inch shells unless new barges are in place. The result would be a dramatically reduced annual fireworks display, in height and size.

The Solution

We plan to purchase a new modular, fire‑retardant platform system that will:

1. Sit higher in the water, protecting shells during transit.

2. Configure quickly, reducing setup time and crew risk.

3. Last for decades, saving tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance over its lifetime.

Estimated cost is $350,000.

Donate Today & Double Your Impact

The WPOA has created a Fireworks Founders Matching Fund. Thanks to our first Founders, Jim and Pat Marcuccilli (piers 205 and 251), every dollar you donate will be matched up to $25,000. For example, a $100 gift instantly becomes $200, and $500 becomes $1,000 towards replacing our barges.

Gifts are matched until Labor Day and we need your support!

How to Give

1. Online: use the form to the right! (or below if on your mobile)

2. Check: payable to WPOA Fireworks Barges, PO  Box  427, Syracuse,  IN  46567

All donations are 100% tax‑deductible through WPOA’s 501(c)(3).

Our Goal

We must raise the full project cost by Labor Day so fabrication can begin this fall and the new barges debut for the July  4th  2026 show, which will coincide with our nation’s 250th anniversary.

Imagine Next July 4th

• A larger, safer launch platform

• The big shells filling the entire sky with color and light!

• An uninterrupted spectacle

• A secured Fireworks tradition for the next generation

Will you help keep Lake  Wawasee’s signature celebration alive and booming?

Thank you for your support!

With gratitude,

Chris Campbell
Fireworks Chair, Wawasee Property Owners Association
chris@wawaseefireworks.com

P.S. If you would like to join the Fireworks Founders Matching Fund, please contact me.
Neighbors make our lake.