DANVILLE — Community members will be celebrating the new, refreshed look of Danville police’s Friendly Town’s educational facility at a reopening party Wednesday night. Chief Chris Yates said the party will be at 6 p.m.
at the facility in Lincoln Park. There will be hot dogs and snacks, in addition to pedal cars for children to drive around the miniature city with traffic lights. The city has also tuned up the last remaining gas-powered car.
“I think you may be surprised with the additional work that’s been done since the weekend of work we all did,” Yates told those who’ve been involved with the project. Friendly Town was established in 1970 to teach the youth of Danville and Vermilion County about safety. Instruction is now focused on pedestrian, bicycle and cyber safety, bullying, and calling 911.
“Operation Friendly Town” started last year to make sure it stays in good working order for generations to come. Yates said none of this could have been completed without all the donors and volunteers. He reported a new 6-foot-tall fence around the facility will be completed, the gas pump has been installed and the traffic signals have all been painted by Mark Janesky, while Danville electricians have them all working and cycling properly.
“Lighting has all been upgraded and brightens the area up very well,” Yates said. In addition, the train station has been repaired until the city determines a longer-term solution, and new grass is growing where it was re-.