Brownstown Wins AT&T Back Home Again In Indiana Decoration Contest
May 25, 2011 | By Paul Kelly
A superb show of Indianapolis 500 spirit will help bring a new multi-use trail for pedestrian and bicycle use to citizens of Brownstown, Ind.
Brownstown prevailed against nine other Indiana finalist cities and towns to win the AT&T Back Home Again in Indiana decoration contest, receiving a $25,000 grant to be used on a local project.
Brownstown officials plan to use the grant to develop a safe trail that connects the Jackson County History Center to the Jackson County Fairgrounds, which is the home of Brownstown Speedway.
The contest encouraged communities across Indiana to celebrate the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29 by decorating town squares and main streets in an Indianapolis 500 theme selected by residents of the respective communities. Twenty-six communities took up the challenge, with 10 finalists determined earlier this month.
The 10 finalist communities: Albion, Batesville, Brownsburg, Brownstown, Gaston, Hagerstown, New Haven, Remington, Terre Haute and Zionsville.
Other participating communities: Amo, Bethany, Brookville, Flora, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Indianapolis – Downtown, Martinsville, Milan, Orleans, Petersburg, Plainfield, Ridgeville, Sheridan, Speedway and Waterloo.
Encouragement from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns and sponsorship from AT&T helped the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again reach out to the communities that are so integral to the history of the Indianapolis 500. The program re-established a statewide outreach program started by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman shortly after World War II.
Communities decorated their town squares and main streets, held parades and gatherings to celebrate the “500” through the first half of May, before IMS officials selected the 10 communities as finalists. Brownstown was selected as the overall winner by a celebrity panel that includes race drivers and media personalities.
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2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, “The Most Important Race in History,” on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.