812 Day 2025: new city parks campaign, improvements to Goosetown Neighborhood

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published August 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM CDT

Contractors clear a Goosetown Alley of lawn and tree debris Tuesday., Aug. 12. The city mowed 42 properties and removed trash from 37, according to the Building Commission.

The city of Evansville unveiled a new campaign to replace faded broken city park signs to begin creating more welcoming attractive parks; dozens of properties saw lawncare, trash removal

Evansville firefighters were part of the cleanup crew at the Goosetown Block By Block Cleanup in Evansville, Tuesday, Aug. 12. Deputy Chief Eric Eifert is on the right, Chief Tony Knight is on the left.

In Evansville’s Goosetown neighborhood, contractors are tossing trash removed from alleys into a large dumpster. Another crew tosses twigs and leaves into a wood chipper.

Tuesday was August 12th, and every year the city of Evansville celebrates 812 Day. 2025 was marked with a block party, park initiative unveiling and block by block cleanup.

Mayor Stephanie Terry said they select neighborhoods based on the amount of crime and code violations.

“That's the neighborhoods that we're going into, to do some additional work … whether that's picking up litter, trash, debris, heavy trash. We've got building authority that is going door to door as well.”

At this cleanup, the city mowed 42 properties and removed trash from 37, according to the Building Commission. They also demolished two blighted homes, and one garage.

So far 24,000 pounds of trash have been removed in these cleanups.

Mayor Terry also announced a new city park sign initiative, kicked off with an unveiling in Goosetown. Overall the city is seeking $157,000 to replace 42 city park signs, at a cost of about $3,700 each. There are 46 parks in the City of Evansville.

Evansville Deputy Mayor Lyndsay Snyder finishes unveiling the new park sign, Tuesday Aug. 12. The goal is to replace 42 more signs via private donations.

Evansville Deputy Mayor Lindsay Snyder unveiled the new Goosetown Park sign, under the shade of park trees. It’s the first of the campaign to replace faded or damaged park signs across the city.

Said City Parks Executive Director Danielle Crook, “if there is one thing that I have heard from our residents loud and clear, it is that they want welcoming, beautiful spaces that they can be proud of, and this signage is a great first step.”

She thanked the Parks Foundation and Capital Campaign Committee.

Evansville 812 Day 2025 — Goosetown, Downtown

Aside from the new parks campaign and block by block cleanup, there was a block party at River City Coffee + Goods Downtown.

There was a DJ, and discounted Evansville and 812 day swag. Heather Vaught, owner of the coffee shop said it’s been the best 812 day yet. “It's been great to have so many people in; new faces, regular customers, just coming to celebrate our city. It's been wonderful.”

Evansville non-profit Young and Established partnered for the event.

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