INDIANAPOLIS – Organizations and businesses adopt road medians to help keep the city clean, but some areas have been neglected.
Of the 1,300 medians in the city, 650 have been adopted through Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Median program. One of the medians in need of attention was located at Pendleton Pike and Shadeland Avenue.
The owner of the median, Ron Pinkney, said although the lawn was overgrown he regularly maintains the area.
"I try to get it done every 7 to 10 days,” said Pinkney. “I went to Florida for a week. I got back and I got a call from Derrik Thomas…the (landscaping) guy should be here within the hour."
Pinkney’s landscaping crew arrived within the hour to mow the grass and cleanup trash thrown into the median.
Median owners who continuously neglect their properties can have them taken away.
"If they are not taking care of it, we will take it back into our inventory,” said Warren Stokes with the Department of Public Works. “Usually with mowing, if they are not taking care of it… we'll take it back into our inventory and start providing maintenance again."
The Adopt-A-Median program is open to city businesses, neighborhood organizations, garden clubs, churches and individuals.
