When the Bristol Town Council considers two citizen-driven petitions regarding the town’s storied Fourth of July celebration, it has only once choice to make. It must reject both petitions.

The people have a powerful voice, and in many circumstances we would celebrate the civic engagement and passion that drive citizens to rally, sign petitions, and compel their government to act. It seems like a ripe time to point out that, as the past two and a half months of chaotic federal governance have shown, we could use a lot more civic engagement these days.

The people who are angry about the shift in venue for the beloved Fourth of July concert series, which is moving from the waterfront Independence Park on Thames Street to a site on the Roger Williams University campus, even if at times aggressive in their tactics and language, have been organized, efficient and effective at making their voices heard and forcing their local government to pay attention.

Now come two petitions that must be heard by the town council within the next month. One would lock the concert series at Independence Park, per town law. The other would lock the historic parade in its same route (Hope to High), also per town law.

Regardless of how you feel about the location of concerts or the route for the parade, neither should be locked into town ordinance, lacking flexibility for safe management by organizers. It simply would not be practical.

Consider the challenges of security, weather, natural disasters, development, infrastructure, etc. At any time, any of these factors could force the town to deviate from historic patterns for celebrating Independence Day. A 1,000-year storm could wipe out the Independence Park seawall. A sinkhole could swallow a section of Hope Street. Security threats could expose a risk not seen before.

In all cases, organizers of these two events would be bound by town law to continue these traditions, in exact location and form, or violate their own town laws. Towns don’t typically like to break their own laws, nor should they.

The spirit of these petitions is clear. People love the Fourth of July celebration, and they don’t want it to change. However, throughout its two-and-a-half-century existence, it has always changed. Parade routes, concerts, ceremonies … all have grown, shifted and adapted to the times. The real tradition — the thing that gives Bristol national acclaim — is that there IS a celebration, year after year, uninterrupted, since the early days of this nation.

The energy and inertia behind these petitions can be channeled in many productive ways. The Fourth of July Committee could use more horsepower and more volunteers willing to support the massive volunteer effort. The town could use more conversation (and should be open to it) about how to hold a concert series, in what format, in ways that are safe and enjoyable. And this town government could use more participation from citizens willing to sacrifice time and energy in public service.

Yes, the council must reject these petitions, but don’t let that be the end of the road for the passion and engagement on display here.