Efforts to beautify C.R. downtown appreciated

As a longtime downtown Cedar Rapids worker, I want to thank the groups that have done so much this year to beautify and enhance our downtown area. Thank you to the city of Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, the Downtown Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District and the volunteers on the Arts, Culture and Entertainment District for the artwork, the parklets, the pianos and the landscaping. Your work has given our downtown a new vibrancy on every corner. (I've always appreciated the stand-alone planters, but they are particularly well done this year.)

I'm proud to show off Cedar Rapids to my out-of-town guests who don't realize how much our community has changed for the better. Thank you for all you've done to transform downtown Cedar Rapids into an attractive and interesting place to live and work.

Tom Petersen, APR

Director,

communications,

ITC Midwest

Cedar Rapids