City turns Fifth Season into "Season of Progress"
To honor the citizens who survived the Flood of 2008 and the thousands of volunteers who have helped rebuild our community, the City of Cedar Rapids is temporarily changing its “five seasons” slogan to “The Fifth Season of Progress.” The City created this new designation to also recognize the flood recovery progress our community has made over the last 12 months.
Our community’s progress can be measured by the 178,800 volunteer hours dedicated to repairing and rebuilding flood-damaged properties; 81,000 tons of debris removed from flood-damaged properties; 793 flood-damaged homes being repaired and rebuilt; 459 small businesses that have reopened and 2,300 citizens who participated in creating the City’s master plan for permanent floodwalls and neighborhood reinvestment. These measurements are estimates because progress is made every day in our community.
“We are making significant progress toward our City’s vision of ‘building a greater community for the next generation,’” said Mayor Kay Halloran. “Now is the time to commemorate the one year anniversary of the flood and track our progress up to this point.”
Guaranty Bank has generously donated space on a billboard near the Cedar River to announce Cedar Rapids’ “Fifth Season of Progress.” The billboard was installed today, May 20, 2009. Citizens can view the sign from the I-380 northbound lanes near the downtown exits. The billboard rental costs were donated to the City for the next 30 days.
“By temporarily changing the City’s slogan, we are marking the progress already achieved and thanking the entire community for their extraordinary work and support of our city,” said City Manager Jim Prosser.
“The Fifth Season of Progress” will also be used in the City’s one year progress report to be released in mid-June and at an informational tent at the Downtown Farmers’ Market on June 6.
