Uptown Marion received statewide recognition during the 2026 Main Street Iowa Development Awards, marking the 40th anniversary of the program with a top honor for its downtown revitalization efforts.
The Central Plaza in City Square Park was presented with the Signature Project Award. The honor is among the highest bestowed by Main Street Iowa, recognizing projects that have an exceptional impact on their communities.
The redevelopment transformed a key block into a year-round destination. Features include an ice-skating loop, live performance space, interactive water features and public art. Officials cited the project as a model for multigenerational design and collaborative leadership.
“When viewing the significant changes over time, and the challenges overcome, recognizing the redevelopment as a whole as a Signature Project seemed appropriate to our team,” said Carol Lilly of Uptown Marion. Lilly noted that only seven such awards have been granted since 2012.
The ceremony, held Thursday evening, honored 18 projects and 45 individual leaders from across the state. Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, praised the local efforts.
“Local leaders, volunteers and business owners continue to invest in their downtowns and create places where people want to live, work and gather,” Durham said. “Tonight’s award winners reflect the creativity, collaboration and commitment that continue to move Iowa communities forward.”
The 40th anniversary celebration provided a milestone for the program, which follows the Main Street Approach™ for downtown revitalization.
