Page 28 - 2024 Community Profile

QUALITY OF PLACE

Rotary Club renovates & Promotion Commission to encourage surrounding area from Memorial Day
Pocket Park revitalization and promote economic through Veterans Day. These banners
The Van Buren Rotary Club completed development. VBO helps drive recognize area service men and women,
renovations on the downtown restrooms progress in the downtown district and both living and deceased, and promote
at Blanche Moore Park in 2023, providing the surrounding region, extending to patriotism. To honor a veteran with a
a comfortable space for downtown visitors the riverfront, Drennen-Scott House, Hometown Heroes banner, contact the
to rest and refresh. Broadway Street, Fairview Cemetery, Van Buren Chamber at (479) 474-2761.
Renovations involved painting and East Main Street. Downtown Trolley
the interior walls, adding Van Buren’s Leaders of VBO work cooperatively To have an authentic, historic
“Perfectly Placed” logo design, painting with community leaders to showcase all the downtown experience, visitors are
the stalls, cleaning and painting floors, region has to offer. The organization also encouraged to ride the city’s custom
installing new mirrors, soap dispensers, devises new ways to enhance the overall trolley. The vintage-style car runs along
and air fresheners, and replacement of aesthetic of Main Street and improve Main Street, transporting passengers
baby changing stations in both the men’s visitors’ experience within the community. to shops, dining establishments, and
and women’s bathrooms. The club also VBO has been instrumental in merchants along the route. The car is
updated the signage, including Braille important downtown projects, such featured in the annual holiday parade.
and ADA compliance information on the as improving streetscapes. It works to Operated by the Van Buren
entry doors, and added signs in the stalls accentuate historic buildings by adding Advertising & Promotion Commission,
containing the hotline number to report plants and decorative displays along the the iconic trolley is a perfect fit in the
human trafficking. blocks. Many shops have added their downtown landscape. Rides are free for
The City of Van Buren, through a own “parklets” to reflect the store’s all passengers. Regular trolley hours are
partnership with Dobson Fiber, also offers style and décor as a result of the VBO Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 AM
complimentary WiFi at the park. Visitors tactical urbanism initiative. to 2 PM and Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
may connect their smartphones, tablets, Hometown Heroes banners proudly Narrated history tours are also available.
laptop computers and other WiFi enabled hang along Main Street and the Learn more at www.vanburen.org.
devices at no charge. The park is located
at 716 North Main Street.
The Old Town Merchants
Association
The Old Town Merchants Association
(TOTMA) is a driving force on Main Street.
The organization hosts a number of
festivals and community events, including
Old Timers’ Day Steampunk Festival in
May, Downtown JunkFest in September,
Fall Festival, Halloween on Main Street,
and special Christmas celebrations.
Main Street Cruisin’ Nights, car shows timsautobodyinc.com
and Food Truck Days have also been
added to the schedule in recent years.
TOTMA works year-round to
promote its members and provide
unique opportunities for local citizens
and visitors to enjoy downtown.
View TOTMA’s full event calendar on
page 14 or at www.oldtownvanburen.com.
Van Buren Original
The significant uptick in renovations
and downtown developments in recent
years is due largely to the efforts of
Van Buren Original (VBO). Founded in
2015, the group works hand in hand
with The Chamber and the Advertising
28 Van Buren Chamber 2024 Directory vanburenchamber.org