Marion mayor: Central Plaza is ‘crowning jewel’ of recent improvement projects

The March 28 groundbreaking ceremony for the Central Plaza project in City Square Park represents more than the latest development in the ongoing community improvement campaign for Uptown Marion, city leaders say. “We've seen many great projects come online in the last few years,” Marin Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said. “But this project is really the crowning jewel of everything we've been working towards. And it's the culmination of so much dreaming for so many years about what the community could be, what we could offer our residents, what we could offer to the region.It’s really the result of what happens when our community dreams together.” The $8.35 million Central Plaza project involves reconstructing the eastern portion of City Square Park, as well as a vacated section of 11th Street. Key features of the project will include a refrigerated ice-skating loop, year-round accessible public restrooms, a live performance space, water features, an interactive play sculpture, public art, seating, an enclosed Depot Pavilion, and other improvements. The project also includes planting perennial flowers and native trees, laying commemorative bricks, and installing decorative lighting. Jill Ackerman, president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, noted that the idea for the Central Plaza project emerged as part of the city’s two community visioning projects – Imagin8, introduced in 2008, and Imaginext, unveiled in 2017. Those two processes, which brought projects such as the new Marion Public Library and YMCA to fruition, also led to the development of the Seventh Avenue reconstruction and festival streetscape project and the North Plaza revitalization. “I think it's an example of what Marion is really good at – placemaking and making sure that people feel (welcome),” she said. “And I think this is going to be the most welcoming gem of our community … a beautiful entry to our uptown area. It’s also going to recognize and honor the history of this park.”

Mr. AbouAssaly pointed out that City Square Park was the first park established in Marion. “We now have 600 acres of parks,” he said. “And this space hasn't been really functioning as a park anymore. It's underutilized, and it's the most visible space in our community. We're going to reinvent that, to make it an awesome place that really says who we are as a community and what we're all about – creating opportunities for people to come together and share their love of their community, for people of all backgrounds to have access to a place that that really celebrates where they live and gives them pride.” Bob Gaffney, president of Rinderknecht Associates, the general contractor for the project, said the Central Plaza will serve as a gathering spot for residents and visitors alike. “The Central Plaza is the centerpiece of a thriving city that has embraced the challenge of creating unique spaces and amenities for its citizens, promoting growth through the public and private investment,” he said. “These things don't just happen. It takes vision. And it takes engaged stakeholders to achieve that vision.” Funding for the project includes a $3 million grant from Destination Iowa and a $100,001 ARPA grant from the Linn County Board of Supervisors. The Marion Park Foundation is spearheading a private fundraising effort, aiming to raise $1.3 million. The rest of the expenses will be met through local option sales tax funds and general obligation bonds. The project began in March and is projected to be mostly finished by December 2024. However, officials said certain features, such as the chiller for the ice loop, require more time to obtain, so it’s doubtful the ice loop will be ready for use next winter. More information about the project is available at cityofmarion.org/CentralPlaza.