3/27/2004
Media Contact:
Paul Whitmore, DPW [317] 327-4669
Justin Ohlemiller, DMD [317] 327-6709 |
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Weeklong cleanup, partnership provides new look to Near Eastside
Trash, debris and underbrush hauled away from area near new Arrestee Processing Center
INDIANAPOLIS –A mix of neighborhood and business leaders, city departments, organizations specializing in beautification, and community service workers wrap up a week's worth of "dirty work" around the city's new Arrestee Processing Center (APC) on the near Eastside today.
The Division of Neighborhood Services of the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD), in cooperation with the Department of Public Works (DPW), Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), Andrews Florist, and the Community Service Program picked up trash, cleared away underbrush and weeds, and beautified an area bounded by Market Street, Ohio Street, Davidson Street, and College Avenue.
"Ridding our neighborhoods of blight and eyesores is an essential part of Mayor Peterson’s vision for building a world-class city," said DMD Director Maury Plambeck. "This type of collaboration between government, businesses and neighborhoods is a testament to the type of work being done to ensure cleaner and safer communities. I especially want to thank the city staff who volunteered their Saturday to perform this cleanup."
The APC is located at 752 East Market Street and is designed to provide a more efficient means to process persons arrested in Marion County. The area around the center has been troubled by trash, weeds, loitering and crime occurring before and after the opening of the facility.
"I feel like the city has been proactive in this," said John Burns, owner of Andrews Florist. "This is going to alleviate a lot of the problems here. It was an eyesore and now will be much nicer for the neighborhood."
This success story comes just one week before the start of the Great American Cleanup, which KIB administers from April through October in Indianapolis. In 2003,
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24,000 volunteers participated in
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350 neighborhood cleanups, and collected
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3.7 million pounds of trash and debris from Indianapolis alleys and neighborhoods.
KIB's neighborhood cleanup program helps neighborhood and community based organizations remove litter and debris from their neighborhoods and the areas around their community. Trash trucks or dumpsters are available by registration as well as bags and other supplies while they last. To organize a cleanup or to volunteer for other beautification efforts, call Keep Indianapolis Beautiful at (317) 264-7555.
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