The Pleasant Run Run (PRR) began in 1982 as a way to highlight the positive aspects of Irvington by utilizing the winning combination of the new activity of jogging and running, and the popularity of an existing event, the Irvington Halloween Festival.
One of the young entrepreneurs connected with the PRR endeavor was Irvington resident Garry Petersen, who had a passion for his community and for creating a healthier environment for urban living. Petersen’s engaging manner and political and ... view more »
The Pleasant Run Run (PRR) began in 1982 as a way to highlight the positive aspects of Irvington by utilizing the winning combination of the new activity of jogging and running, and the popularity of an existing event, the Irvington Halloween Festival.
One of the young entrepreneurs connected with the PRR endeavor was Irvington resident Garry Petersen, who had a passion for his community and for creating a healthier environment for urban living. Petersen’s engaging manner and political and business connections, coupled with broad skills in public and governmental affairs and economics, piqued the interest of people in both Irvington and Indianapolis. That winning combination led to the launch of the PRR and generated funds for the Marion County Children’s Guardian Home, then in operation in Irvington (it closed in 2009). Petersen was the creative sparks for the posters and other PRR artwork in this exhibit.
Garry Petersen passed away Sept. 1, 2016. In his memory, the Petersen family donated Garry’s collection of PRR posters and other artwork to the Irvington Historical Society. These posters, plaques, t-shirts and photos reflect the PRR from 1983 through 2009 as well as his passion for urban forestry.
The graphic designs for the PRR posters were provided by two Indianapolis firms, Serigraphics and High End Concepts. The recurring running-man icon made its first appearance in the 1989 poster. There is no definite record of who designed this little guy, but the urban legend is that they were developed in the communications department of Community Hospital to promote the community running trail created by the Irvington Hysterical Jogging Society. Race event posters designed after 1992 pay subtle tribute to Mike Carroll, another PRR founder, who was among four civic leaders and two pilots killed when two aircraft collided over Greenwood Municipal Airport on Sept. 11, 1992. The civic leaders were heading to Columbus, Ohio, on a fact-finding mission on behalf of developing what would later become White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis.
The Irvington Historical Society hopes to perpetuate the spirit and civic leadership of Garry Petersen and the others who initiated the PRR and exemplified by the motto that runs through these wonderful posters:
“Let the light be passed so the vision is never lost.””
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