On Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 10 AM to 2 PM the City of El Cerrito is hosting a community celebration to mark the completion of the multi-year streetscape project to enhance San Pablo Avenue.

The “Spring Fling” celebration along the El Cerrito section of San Pablo Avenue is an opportunity to see the various improvements and “rediscover” what San Pablo Avenue has to offer.

From 10:00am to 11:00am, there will be a welcome ceremony in front of the renovated historic Cerrito Theater (now Rialto Cinemas Cerrito). The ceremony will include a welcome from the Mayor, a brief overview of the project, and formal dedication of the sidewalk “stars” by the Friends of the Cerrito Theater. Light refreshments will be served.

From 11:00am to 2:00pm, there will be a self-paced tour along the Avenue highlighting the recent improvements. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike or take transit. There will be about five “tour stops” with more information about various aspects of the Streetscape Project. Various local stores, galleries and restaurants on the Avenue will be offering discounts or samples as part of the Spring Fling. An audio tour to accompany the series of 28 historic-cultural sidewalk pavers will also be available for download prior to the event.

The Friends of the Cerrito Theater, the El Cerrito Historical Society, the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, Gates + Associates, Cole Management and Engineering and other local businesses are proud to support this event.

More information about this event will be available online soon at http://www.el-cerrito.org (on or about April 20).

The various Streetscape improvements help to identify El Cerrito as a distinct place along the Avenue, enhance the economic vitality of the area and create a better walking environment. For more on the overall Streetscape project, visit www.el-cerrito.org/public_works/ave.html