City of Bloomington Calls for Volunteers for Downtown Cleanup Ahead of IU Graduation

The City of Bloomington has issued a call for volunteers to participate in a Downtown Community Cleanup Day on Monday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in preparation for Indiana University’s graduation weekend. The cleanup will focus on making the downtown area more welcoming for residents and visitors by picking up litter, pulling weeds, and improving the overall appearance of public spaces.

City staff will lead the cleanup teams and provide all necessary tools and equipment. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work alongside Mayor Kerry Thomson as part of this community effort. The day will be spearheaded by City staff and Brighten Bloomington crews, a Centerstone Job Placement Partnership with the City’s Public Works department. Brighten Bloomington participants work year-round to assist with various maintenance tasks, including painting curbs, refreshing no-parking zones, cleaning storm drains, and maintaining tree plots.

Volunteers will meet at Waldron Hill Buskirk Park (331 S Washington St, behind the police station) for a morning kickoff before fanning out into cleanup teams. The location offers convenient parking nearby (Fourth Street Garage and Lincoln Street), public restrooms at the Allison-Jukebox Community Center, and plenty of space for a community gathering.

The event schedule is as follows:

• 9 a.m. – Meet at 3rd Street Park for opening remarks by Mayor Kerry Thomson
• 9:30 a.m. – Teams disperse to assigned cleanup zones
• 12:30 p.m. – Cleanup activities wrap up

Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance. The City welcomes individuals, families, businesses, and community groups to participate in this day of service.

In case of inclement weather, this event has a backup date of Wednesday, May 7.

For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit the City of Bloomington’s website at bloomington.in.gov/cleanup.