Spring Cleanup and Community Engagement

April 2013

Bungalow Blogger Friends,

What a year it's been!  We've spent the last year enjoying watching the little one grow up and realized how much we have neglected this blog.  But that's OK, because it means we are enjoying the outdoors, family and friends, and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

As I looked back at some of the posts, I realized we needed to dedicate a post to our neighbors, because living in an urban neighborhood in the process of revitalization does, from time to time, have its own challenges.  But we have been fortunate, in that our community sticks it out together through thick and thin which makes it all worthwhile and very rewarding.

This past April 2013, our neighborhood of approximately 900 homes held a bi-annual neighborhood clean-up and beautification.  Neighbors get together in the morning and enjoy breakfast together, and then break out into groups.  Some clean medians, plant flowers and trim trees.  Others clean alleys of the debris which has accumulated during the winter.  This is back-breaking work, so we enjoy the company of one another and have a cookout afterwards.  This is a neighborhood ritual that's practiced as regularly and attentively as Easter and Christmas celebrations might be in some of your families.

Below are some pictures dedicated to these tough folks!

Above, Neighbors Take a Quick Photo Before Breaking into Clean-up Groups

Alley work is back-breaking, and three generations of residents help with this work!

Above,  Neighbors Haul Away a Mattress

Above, Neighbors Clean A Main Street Leading to the Neighborhood

After the Cleanup, We Celebrate with a Cookout!  Kids are rewarded with a plaque for their help; we hope this day teaches a sense of civil duty.  We might have the next mayor or councilwoman with us!

This event was sponsored by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Department of Public Works and the Mayor's Office.  Above, the Mayor's Neighborhood Liaison Paul Ross joins us for lunch!

DPW Workers assist neighbors in the clean up effort.

Above, the plaque which we presented the retiring individual who has helped coordinate the cleanup and other neighborhood events for many years.

  All for Now,

Ryan & Kayla