Building Relationships:
Neighborhood Block Party at Fountain
Square Academy a Success

September 25, 2008

Though the weather appeared dicey at times, our first Neighborhood Block Party at Fountain Square Academy was an unqualified success.

More than 250 of our students, parents, and neighbors joined Fountain Square Academy for no other reason than to celebrate neighborhood togetherness. A quick look around the grounds showed parents, grandparents, youngsters and groups of friends enjoying a number of free activities and a free dinner of hot dogs, chips, pizza slices, and soda. Nothing fancy; just good ol’ American Block Party cuisine.

Many members of the business community joined the celebration. Little Caesar’s Pizza, our own corner Marathon Station, Indy Parks, the Police Athletic League, IMPD, Preston-Safeway, and others supported the school and our community by either hosting a booth, providing goodies to eat and drink, or placing our posters in their windows throughout Fountain Square.

Many activities entertained our younger guests. We offered a bouncy “moon walk,” an old-fashioned water balloon tossing contest (we decided to keep raw eggs out of the mix!), and a duck choosing game for the wee ones.

Kids of all ages enjoyed face-painting and press-on tattoos. And watching the little ones scrambling to see what was happening when the IMPD motorcycle officers appeared with lights flashing made parents and grandparents chuckle. Other huge hits were the IMPD mounted police and the Indy Parks Nature Bus. Giveaways from Family Video and Little Caesar’s Pizza were a welcomed addition.

The Muzik & Memories DJ kept things hopping when we moved the festivities indoors at about 5:30 due to oppressive skies. Then the line dancing started – and continued until the party ended.

Mary Gurnell-Clark, one of the event’s organizers, was pleased with the turn-out and with the fun, neighborly feel of the event. “All our sponsoring businesses and community organizations congratulated us on such great attendance for our first real community event. And when I asked our parents, ‘Do we do this again?’ I got a resounding ‘Yes we do!’ We couldn’t be happier.”

Special thanks for the success of our first Neighborhood Block Party go to our very own Top Dawgs, led Saturday by an efficient Jessica Duff. Thank you, Jessica, for taking charge and ensuring that things ran smoothly.

Be sure to visit and thank these event partners:

• Preston-Safeway
  
• Little Caesar’s Pizza
  
• Family Video
  
• CVS Pharmacy
  
• Indianapolis Marion County Public Library
  
• IMPD Mounted Police
  
• Indy Parks & Recreation
  
• Police Athletic League

And these fine businesses and community organizations who enthusiastically displayed our event poster:

• Smokehouse on Shelby
• Bud’s Supermarket
• National City Bank
• Salvation Army/Fountain Square Corps
• Fletcher Place Community Center
• Marathon/Shelby and Pleasant Run Parkway
• Green 3
  
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
  
• Garfield Park Arts Service Center
  
• Southeast Community Center
  
• Boys & Girls Club/Keenan-Stahl Division
  
• Gusto!
  
• JC Bicycle Sales and Service
  
• Gnosis Urban Art/Toys/Gallery
  
• Good News Ministries

Thank you, one and all. We hope to see you all again next year. And bring even more neighbors!

View more success stories.