Cleanup, Block Party to Celebrate Bloomington's Downtown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2009

For additional information, contact:
Sue Owens, Program Specialist, Community and Family Resources Department, City of Bloomington, 349-3468, owenss@bloomington.in.gov
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov




Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan invites everybody to celebrate our downtown and Be Downtown Bloomington by joining the City and local businesses in participating in two special downtown events on Wednesday, May 6.

The fourth annual Downtown Cleanup will begin at 8:30 a.m. with volunteer registration in the City Hall Atrium, 401 N. Morton St, and the Parking Garage kickoff block party will begin immediately afterward from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the garage at 4th and Walnut Streets.

"We have all invested a great deal of time and resources into making downtown Bloomington the very unique, very special place that it is," Kruzan said. "These two events are an opportunity to celebrate the coming together of residents, businesses and the City for a common purpose, and we're looking forward to having a great morning enjoying our downtown."

The cleanup has grown in scope each year, and this year's version promises to be even bigger. CFC, Inc., Irwin Union Bank, Downtown Bloomington, Inc. and others have sponsored the cleanup and will have employees participating, along with members of the general public. Volunteers will remove graffiti, plant flowers and remove trash and litter throughout the downtown. City staff will lead the pickup and provide the necessary equipment.

A light breakfast will be served, and participants will receive an event T-shirt courtesy of CFC, Inc., Irwin Union Bank and X-Printwear. Businesses and individuals can get involved by calling Sue Owens, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department Program Specialist, at 349-3468 or owenss@bloomington.in.gov.

The Garage kickoff block party will celebrate the renaming of the downtown garages to coincide with the City's Garage Culture campaign. New signage and public art pieces will decorate the three garages, as well. The event will feature catered food from BloomingFoods, live music by Clayton Anderson Band and remarks by City officials and local community leaders. The City will be giving away vouchers for free parking time in the garages.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Danny Lopez, Communications Director, at 349-CITY or lopezd@bloomington.in.gov.

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