City of Indianapolis, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful partnering on Great Indy Cleanup throughout April

INDIANAPOLIS – The City of Indianapolis is partnering with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) in the Great Indy Cleanup, a citywide effort to beautify and strengthen our neighborhoods, throughout April. Large cleanups planned in Marion Country’s four quadrants aim to achieve litter abatement through neighborhood-driven initiatives.

“This endeavor is about helping to make our neighborhoods cleaner, more attractive places to live and play,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “Join us in our beautification efforts, cleaning up of right of ways and picking up litter, and help foster pride in your community.”

The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and KIB, with support from the Department of Public Works and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Development, are coordinating with neighborhood associations and groups across the City to organize cleanup efforts during the month of April and continuing through October.

"By extending the Great Indy Cleanup to the full month of April, we hope to break records with participation," said David Forsell, president of KIB. "Last year more than a million pounds of litter were collected with the program and with the entire month of April dedicated to the Great Indy Cleanup, we hope that every resident comes out to support our efforts and keep Indianapolis beautiful.”

Mayor Ballard plans to visit with Great Indy Cleanup volunteers at the following times and locations for these beautification and community improvement projects planned for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 23:

• 8 a.m.: Great Indy Cleanup White River Yacht Club’s Annual White River Cleanup, 1400 E. 74th St. Boat Ramp.
• 9 a.m.: Great Indy Cleanup Town of Meridian Hills Meridian Hills Boulevard Cleanup, along Meridian Hills Boulevard between 73rd Street and Meridian Street.
• 10 a.m.: Great Indy Cleanup Lafayette Square Cleanup and Art Center Project, 3919 Lafayette Road.
• 11 a.m.: Great Indy Cleanup Decatur Township Cleanup, along Kentucky Avenue in Decatur Township; meet at Decatur Central High School, 5251 Kentucky Ave.
• Noon: Great Indy Cleanup Hawthorne Neighborhood Cleanup, in and around the Hawthorne neighborhood; meet at Center for Working Families, 70 N. Mount St.
• 12:30 p.m.: Great Indy Cleanup We Care Neighborhood Cleanup, in and around the We Care neighborhood; meet at Steel Workers Union Hall, 218 S. Addison St. Volunteers also will be replanting Rosalie Cook Park, 16 S. Addison St.

Volunteers are sought for all cleanup days. Visit www.kibi.org/volunteer_project_calendar to learn more and sign up today! Now through April 30, visit your neighborhood Marion County Public Library, YMCA, or PNC Bank branch to pick up a pair of gloves and a trash bag to help clean up the litter in your neighborhood and participate in the Great Indy Cleanup. Simply dispose of the bag with your weekly trash pickup.

The Great Indy Cleanup is made possible by the City of Indianapolis, Covanta Energy, South Side Landfill, Republic Services, and Kroger. For more information on KIB’s efforts to beautify the city and to learn how you can help, please visit www.greatindycleanup.com.

About Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization uniting people to build community and transform public spaces through aesthetic and environmental improvement. In 2010, KIB engaged nearly 40,000 volunteers on 500 community improvement projects. To learn more, please visit www.kibi.org.

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