THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Community members will be celebrating the new, refreshed look of Danville police’s Friendly Town’s educational facility at a reopening party Wednesday night.
Chief Chris Yates said the party will be at 6 p.m. at the facility in Lincoln Park. There will be hot dogs and snacks, in addition to pedal cars for children to drive around the miniature city with traffic lights.
The city has also tuned up the last remaining gas-powered car.
“I think you may be surprised with the additional work that’s been done since the weekend of work we all did,” Yates told those who’ve been involved with the project.
Friendly Town was established in 1970 to teach the youth of Danville and Vermilion County about safety. Instruction is now focused on pedestrian, bicycle and cyber safety, bullying, and calling 911. “Operation Friendly Town” started last year to make sure it stays in good working order for generations to come.
Yates said none of this could have been completed without all the donors and volunteers.
He reported a new 6-foot-tall fence around the facility will be completed, the gas pump has been installed and the traffic signals have all been painted by Mark Janesky, while Danville electricians have them all working and cycling properly.
“Lighting has all been upgraded and brightens the area up very well,” Yates said.
In addition, the train station has been repaired until the city determines a longer-term solution, and new grass is growing where it was re-seeded.
Other renovations included a new roof and siding and interior updates for the main building; sidewalk repair/replacement; demolition and construction of new gas station; raising the tree canopy and pruning; repairs to buildings; replacement of asphalt on all streets; curb repair and paint; additional security lighting; and removal of unkempt shrubs and bushes.
Volunteer groups partnered with the city and police department to sponsor and adopt the buildings, which consist of nine structures including a school, police department, fire department, church, flagpole area, farm, gas station, house, and CSX rail station.
More than $12,000 was raised in donations in 10 days, and the city received a $5,000 grant from CSX for the project.
More than 100 people volunteered their time over 20 hours on the weekend of May 4-5, Yates said.
Sponsoring a structure in Friendly Town includes a one-time $500 donation to cover the costs spent by the adopting groups to care for the structures. Sponsors are recognized on a sign placed in front of their building.
The improvements are also thanks to the assistance of the late state Sen. Scott Bennett, D-Champaign, who worked to get the city a $1 million Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant that was shared with the police department to help with prevention of violent crime and community/police development.
In addition to the Friendly Town improvements, the grant provided funding for the creation of a Police Community Training Center within a section of the Public Works facility on Voorhees Street, equipment, training, supplies and the enhancement and growth of police/community programs, including radar speed signs throughout the city and a new, upcoming online crime-reporting system.
“It’s more beautiful now, today, and it’s getting finished up,” Yates said of Friendly Town.
Friendly Town classes have started for the summer for area children and Danville summer-school students.
It served about 120 children last year, and this year it will see a lot more. Officials hope to serve 600 annually.
Yates hopes to also plan a mini marathon there, too.
