Sharing the Dream at MLK Park

Fans of the swimming pool at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park will be pleasantly surprised when they return this

Citizens Energy Group employees Jamie McClain (left) and Donald Lukes paint a bathhouse wall in Dr. Martin Luther King Park as part of the Sharing the Dream volunteer day.

summer to find major improvements to the badly deteriorated bathhouse.

The makeover comes courtesy of employees of Citizens Energy Group, who converged on the bathhouse to take part in Citizens Energy Group Sharing the Dream 2010 Employee Volunteer Day of Service.

That work, plus work donated by local contractors, amounts to more than $75,000 in improvements to the Near Northside park. Similar work was done to the Pride Park Community Center on the Eastside in a unique public-private partnership honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with total improvements valued at about $110,000.

At the pool bathhouse at Martin Luther King Park, Citizens Energy Group provided contractors and volunteers to replace the roof; paint the floors, ceilings, benches and walls; repair wooden beams; install new fixtures, shower curtains and bathroom stall doors; and create wall murals.

At Pride Park Community Center, contractors and volunteers remodeled the bathrooms and kitchen, built a half wall to create a recreation area in the one-room center, renovated the office and storage areas, replaced fixtures, installed new ceiling tiles, decorated, painted and supplied new appliances.

Partnering industrial contractor Marksmen Construction Services’ in-kind contributions to the projects totaled $36,000. In addition, C.E. Reeve Roofing and Firestone Building Products provided combined work and materials contributions totaling about $25,000. Local interior/ architecture firm Mitsch Design provided $2,500 in services.

“With Sharing the Dream, Citizens Energy Group reaffirms its commitment to helping the City of Indianapolis create a world-class parks system,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “This very generous donation of time, energy and resources by Citizens Energy Group’s staff and leadership showcases the community spirit of this corporate entity and exemplifies the kind of public-private partnerships we seek to support our assets for decades to come.”

Sharing the Dream 2010 marks Citizens Energy Group’s second service project with Indy Parks. The first Sharing the Dream project in January 2009 resulted in more than $50,000 worth of improvements to Brookside Park Family Center.

“Through Sharing the Dream 2010, Citizens Energy Group is proud to continue our tradition of honoring Dr. King and his tremendous service to humanity by supporting the renovations at Martin Luther King Park and Pride Park,” said Carey Lykins, president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “We are privileged to work with Indy Parks while reinforcing our commitment to neighborhood redevelopment and enhancing the quality of life in our community.”

“This partnership highlights the heart and passion Citizens Energy Group’s employees bring to our neighborhoods,” said Indy Parks Director Stuart Lowry. “I can think of no better canvas for this year’s Sharing the Dream project than Martin Luther King Park, which honors the past with a wonderful memorial to Dr. King while serving the neighborhood today with great amenities, including our pool. We are extremely grateful for Citizens Energy Group’s gift of time and talent for this vital green footprint and look forward to sharing the upgrades with our patrons.”