Company Nixes Costs For Parsippany's 4th Of July Celebration

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany may have another reason to celebrate on Independence Day. Onyx Equities — a real estate investment firm — donated $75,000 to the township for the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks, covering costs for the major event.

"Thanks to this public-private partnership between Onyx and our township, there will be no expense to Parsippany residents for putting on this event," said Mayor Michael Soriano, as the company presented the township Wednesday with a giant check.

Parsippany couldn't hold its Fourth of July celebration last year, because of coronavirus restrictions. The township wasn't sure at first how much the state would restrict festivities this year. So officials talked with Onyx about the possibility of a drive-up celebration in which they'd use the company's properties.

Then New Jersey rolled back capacity restrictions and local cases went down. The township announced May 5 it would return to tradition and hold an in-person celebration. At least in terms of Parsippany's largest summer celebration, the township could get back to "normal." So they pitched the new idea of old traditions to Onyx.

"We are honored to have been approached with this opportunity," said Kristen Pappas, Onyx's senior vice president of property management. "When the mayor and his team came to us, it was pretty evident that we were going to go for it. I think I said yes before they even finished."

Watch the check presentation below:

Onyx Equities operates in 10 states, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The company acquired more than $2 billion worth of property in the region from 2004-17, according to Real Estate NJ. Onyx has had a presence in Parsippany since the early 2000s.

Gates open for the Fourth of July celebration at 6 p.m. Sunday at Parsippany Hills High School. The rain date is Monday.

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