FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 6, 2021

Contact:    Meghan Behymer  | Communications + Marketing Manager
mbehymer@downtownkalamazoo.org   |    269-344-0795

Downtown Kalamazoo’s Bates Alley is getting a fresh coat of paint and a few new features ahead of the summer season with the re-painting of the street mural and installation of a pavilion for live music performances.

On May 1-2, the street mural got a fresh coat of paint thanks to the original artist, Patrick Hershberger, and a team of volunteers. The mural, originally designed and painted in 2018, was returned to its original vibrancy that had been worn away by foot traffic for events and daily use over the last three years.

Friday morning, May 7, Bates Alley will become home to a new feature. The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership will install a semi-permanent pavilion directly adjacent to the alley in the adjoining parking lot, where live performances have typically been staged for Beats on Bates. The pavilion will provide a covered performance space for live performances like Beats on Bates and will replace the white rental tents and stage that have been used in the past.

“Public spaces have always been important in downtown cores,” said Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership’s President Andrew Haan. “With the pandemic, these spaces are even more important for the community to safely connect and experience all that our downtown has to offer.”

Bates Alley is also located within the Central Commons Refreshment Area, where visitors can grab an alcoholic beverage from a participating location and enjoy outside while strolling, shopping, or enjoying events.

Beats on Bates, a Wednesday night music series on Bates Alley, launches June 2 featuring Out of Favor Boys, and continues weekly through September. A full calendar of downtown events can be viewed on the Downtown Kalamazoo website at https://downtownkalamazoo.org/events-news/.

About Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership

Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area and, in turn, the Kalamazoo community. In conjunction with its affiliate organizations, it manages a full range of activities that include capital improvement projects, business development and recruitment programs, image marketing and event planning to establish Downtown Kalamazoo as an accessible, diverse, green, progressive and vibrant urban center. For more info, visit downtownkalamazoo.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or find more downtown news on our website.