WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 04/14/09 -- Washington, DC's Golden Triangle area will launch its annual spring cleaning next week. The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID), a private non-profit corporation that works to enhance DC's central business district, kicks off an intensive Spring Cleanup Week on April 18 through April 26, to beautify the area and encourage neighbors to keep this community clean.

"The Golden Triangle is not only the front yard of the White House but also the center of Washington's vibrant business community," said Leona Agouridis, executive director of the Golden Triangle BID. "People respond positively to things that are clean and green and our Spring Cleanup sends a positive message about this neighborhood. We thank Councilman Jack Evans for joining our Flowers for Phones event to honor Earth Day and help area workers learn about ways to recycle," she added.

The Golden Triangle BID, with support from numerous local agencies, residents and workers, has many events planned for Spring Cleanup Week, including:

--  Flowers for Phones: Councilman Jack Evans and the Golden Triangle will
    host 'Flower for Phones' with the onsite support from DC Department of
    Public Works' Office of Recycling and the non-profit organization
    Earthworks on Monday, April 20, (with a rain date on Tuesday, April 21)
    from 11:00am to 2:00pm in Farragut Square Park and Golden Triangle Park.
    The 'Flowers for Phones' project encourages people to drop off used cell
    phones to be recycled. In exchange, participants will receive a yellow
    flower to plant and a chance to win prizes from Golden Triangle BID
    merchants including Results Gym, the Quincy hotel, BLT Steak, the Melting
    Pot, and others.

--  Bike Racks: To encourage people to ride their bikes more often, the
    Golden Triangle BID will install 30 new bike racks. This will bring the
    total number of bike rack spots in the Golden Triangle BID to 660.

--  Flowers: With the help of many property managers throughout the BID,
    the Golden Triangle intends to cover 70 percent of all building landscaping
    in the area with yellow flowers. Yellow flowers are a simple way to remind
    people that they are visiting or working in the Golden Triangle
    neighborhood. Visual improvements can increase the number of visitors, and
    increase the perceived product value and customer service in a business
    district.

--  Tree Planting: 19 new trees will be planted and street trees will be
    pruned with the help from District Department of Transportation's Urban
    Forestry Administration (UFA). Trees help mitigate air pollution, slow
    storm water runoff and save energy by shading buildings in summer and
    letting in light in the winter.

--  Golden Triangle Park Planting: The Golden Triangle BID will plant 337
    new plants in Golden Triangle Park at 21st and M Streets.

--  Newspaper Boxes: The Golden Triangle BID will fix and replace
    newspaper boxes that need attention with the help of area newspaper
    publishers.

--  Paint Light Poles and Corrals: Golden Triangle will paint 60 full
    light poles and 6 newspaper corrals that are stationed throughout the
    Golden Triangle BID.

--  Rolling Cleanup: Golden Triangle BID Ambassadors plan to remove 800
    bags of trash from the BID and do a detailed rolling cleanup of block faces
    that need special attention.
    

For a full list of 'Flowers for Phones' event prizes and more information about Spring Cleanup Week, visit www.goldentriangledc.com.

About the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID)

Founded in 1997, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) is a private non-profit 501(c)(6) corporation that works to enhance the central business district in Washington, DC. The BID's primary focus is to provide a clean, safe and friendly environment within its 42 blocks of public space for area workers and visitors, and to retain and attract businesses to the Golden Triangle.