CEDAR RAPIDS, IA –September 8, 2011 –  The City of Cedar Rapids is launching a new initiative to improve our city’s quality of life called Clean Up CR.   “Everyone can work to keep Cedar Rapids a beautiful place to live.  The goal of Clean Up CR is to create opportunities for citizens and the city to work together to improve our great city,” said Jeff Pomeranz, City Manager.  The City is sponsoring three opportunities to help Clean Up CR this fall: a series of large item drop-off events, two litter collection events and a coupon to drop-off appliances for ½ price at the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste Agency.   Information about all three events can be found at www.CleanUpCR.com.  Residents will also be receiving a coupon in the mail with details about the events.   

The large item drop-off events are scheduled every Saturday from September 17 through October 8 from 10am to 2pm at various locations throughout the city to help citizens access the event.  The drop-off events are designed to help residents dispose of larger items such as furniture, electronics, scrap metal and tires while also promoting waste diversion.  “By creating the drop-off centers each weekend, we are able to separate the materials and send them to the appropriate recycling centers, keeping the majority of the waste out of the landfill.  We were also able to partner with Goodwill of the Heartland and River Valley Salvation Army to reclaim any reusable materials,” said Mark Jones, Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Superintendent.  Details about the items collected and not accepted at these events can be found at www.CleanUpCR.com.

In addition to the large item drop-off events, two litter collection events are scheduled this fall to help residents get out and CleanUpCR in their neighborhoods and along Interstate 380.  On October 15, residents are invited to join their neighbors in collecting litter from the streets surrounding their homes.   Then on October 22, groups will work together to keep the corridor beautiful along Interstate 380.  More information about how to participate in these events is available at www.CleanUpCR.com.  

Also, Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling customers will receive a coupon in the mail for half off all appliances taken to the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency on October 1, 2011.  A coupon is required to receive the discount.  It normally costs $9.00 to recycle an appliance at the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste Agency.  The coupon will allow customers to recycle their appliances for $4.50 each.  Some examples of appliances include: air conditioners, refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers and water heaters.  A full list of applicable appliances can be found at www.CleanUpCR.com.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – September 13, 2011 – The City of Cedar Rapids will present various improvement concepts for 1st Avenue East, from 27th Street to 40th Street, at a public meeting on Thursday, September 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kenwood Park United Methodist Church, 175 34th St NE. Anyone that lives, works or travels along this corridor is invited to attend this meeting and provide feedback on the proposed concepts.  

• WHAT: Informational meeting about 1st Avenue East, from 27th St to 40th St
• WHEN: Thursday, September 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• WHERE: Kenwood Park United Methodist Church, 175 34th St NE 

The information provided by local residents and business owners at the July Community Visioning Session, and input gathered from 591 survey responses, was carefully reviewed and used to identify possible improvements for this well-traveled corridor. The City requests more community involvement as possible improvements strategies are further refined.

The public meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6:15 p.m. Following the presentation, project representatives will be on hand to facilitate a one-hour small workgroup mapping exercise and to answer any questions. Community input on the improvement concepts and strategies will help to determine final recommendations, which are expected to be complete in early November.

1st Avenue East, from 27th Street to 40th Street, is a commercial center and main road between downtown and residential areas of Cedar Rapids. This stretch of road experiences far more crashes than similar roads in Iowa and has daily periods of vehicle congestion that increase safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as limits the access to local businesses. Additionally, the pavement along this portion of 1st Avenue East must be replaced. This study is being conducted to identify the improvement strategy that will provide the greatest community benefit as 1st  Avenue East from 27th Street to 40th Street is reconstructed.  

For more information, please contact the project team at info@CR1stAvenueEast.com or visit us at www.Cedar-Rapids.org and click on the “1st Avenue East Improvements” link on the home page.