THE DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP IS ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP TO KEEP THE RIVERFRONT CLEAN DURING GM RIVER DAYS AND TARGET FIREWORKS

DETROIT – June will be busting out all over as Detroiters and visitors celebrate the GM River Days festival on the city’s Riverfront, June 20-23. More than 100 bands will entertain on six stages and there will be plenty of family fun on land and water. The city’s international waterfront will also host the biggest blast of all, the Target Fireworks on June 23. Festival organizers are preparing in advance to keep the riverfront area fun, safe and clean.

As an extension of its regular maintenance of the Riverfront, the Downtown Detroit Partnership’s Clean Downtown team will be on board with a 40-member crew. “Maintaining the riverfront is crucial to keeping the Detroit International Riverfront vibrant and inviting for years to come. When planning major events that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, we need to offer top notch programming in an outstanding environment. We believe it is our responsibility to think clean and green, “said Detroit Riverfront Conservancy President & CEO Faye Nelson.

The Clean Downtown crew will add dozens of extra trash receptacles on the riverfront as well as monitor and dispose of ground litter. Visitors can lend a hand by placing trash in receptacles, being careful of trees and flowers, and not placing stickers anywhere in the public environment. In addition to riverfront coverage, DDP will be adding staff to its downtown crews (normally 18 individuals) to assure a clean environment for visitors throughout downtown.



“Clean Downtown is one of our most important programs, “said Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) President & CEO Ann Lang. “Last year we removed 50 ton of trash during the GM River Days event. By the next day our Clean Downtown team of Goodwill Industries workers had the Riverfront restored to its regular fresh-and-clean appearance.” In 2007 the Clean Downtown program removed a total of 310 ton of trash from downtown Detroit including major events.

Clean Downtown also provides special event coverage for the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Detroit’s Winter Blast, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the North American International Auto Show and professional sporting events including the recent Detroit Red Wings celebration parade.

Clean Downtown, which was launched in June of 2006, employs Goodwill Industries workers to remove litter, graffiti, posters and stickers; steam-clean bus shelters and sidewalks; and handle weed abatement. DDP also provides landscape maintenance in downtown public spaces.

Clean Downtown information: www.DowntownDetroit.org

GM River Days information: click on www.GMriverdays.com

About the Downtown Detroit Partnership
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), chaired by Roger S. Penske, is a private/public partnership of corporate and civic leaders. This includes Board representation from Detroit 300, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and the Mayor's Office. DDP partners with the City of Detroit on public space maintenance programs, marketing activities and event support. DDP also initiates information exchange, advocacy and networking opportunities on behalf of the downtown business community. Its principal programs for 2008 are the NEXT Detroit: Clean Downtown initiative and the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. www.DowntownDetroit.org