DCA announces six finalists for 2009 Iowa Great Places program
Site visits scheduled for September; Iowa’s next Great Places to be named in October
For Immediate Release August 28, 2009
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Department of Cultural Affairs today announced six Iowa communities have been named finalists for the 2009 Iowa Great Places program.
The Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board and DCA staff will conduct site visits Sept. 29-30, 2009, to the Cedar Valley Alliance (Cedar Falls/Evansdale/Waterloo), Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty, Marion, Tama County, the Turkey River Corridor and the Villages of Van Buren County to asses the readiness of each place to move forward. This year’s Iowa Great Places will be announced Oct. 16, 2009, in Des Moines.
Now in its fifth year, Iowa Great Places encourages communities to work together to achieve a better quality of life for its citizens. The program combines state resources with local assets to build capacity in communities, regions, neighborhoods or districts that cultivate their unique and authentic qualities.
In developing their proposals, Iowans were asked to address seven unique and authentic dimensions that make places special: engaging experiences; rich, diverse populations and cultures; a vital, creative economy; clean and accessible natural and built environments; well-designed infrastructure; a shared attitude of optimism that welcomes new ideas; and a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic.
Following are summaries of each community’s proposal:
Cedar Valley Alliance
The Cedar Valley Alliance consists of Cedar Falls, Evansdale and Waterloo. Its proposal focuses on strengthening the Cedar Valley community’s relationship with the Cedar River; increasing the public’s use and enjoyment of the Cedar River and its watershed; and enhancing its environmental health, cultural heritage, recreational features and economic opportunities.
Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty
Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty incorporates three communities with a vision focusing on literature. Iowa City became part of the Creative Cities Network when it was named a City of Literature in November 2008 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Iowa City is the third city in the world to receive this recognition, joining Edinburgh, Scotland, and Melbourne, Australia. Its proposal develops and supports the “UNESCO City of Literature” brand for Iowa City and surrounding communities. The proposal also envisions a development called the Stories Project, a substantial physical interpretative center on 25 former Brownfield acres near the Iowa River that will be dedicated to language, literature and literacy.
Marion
The City of Marion has developed a community-wide visioning process called Imagine 8. This process solicited more than 1,800 responses from area residents to develop a clear picture of the community’s direction. Eight ideas were selected from the 1,800 ideas submitted by respondents. “All Trails Lead to Marion” focuses on Marion Square Park as the center of community and recreational trails, parks, amphitheatre and public art, connecting many of the Great 8 ideas to a seamless destination point for residents and visitors alike.
Tama County
Tama County and its 12 towns submitted a proposal that focuses on its Native American heritage with the theme “Feeding the Spirit.” This culturally diverse county proposes expansion of Otter Creek Lake and Park; restoration of historical museums and the Weiting Opera House; and the development of the Meskwaki Cultural Center & Museum to enhance the cultural, economic and workforce environment of the county.
Turkey River Corridor
The Turkey River Corridor is a unique application for Great Places. Three towns – Clermont, Elgin and Elkader – and two counties – Clayton and Fayette – have joined together to submit a regional application. All three towns are connected by 114 miles of the Turkey River. Their vision is to collaborate, develop and enhance the existing natural resources flowing from the Turkey River through the creation of land and water trails that will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development in Northeast Iowa.
Villages of Van Buren County
The Villages of Van Buren County is a place that encourages visitors to slow down, relax and embrace a more leisurely pace. The proposal calls for developing a Villages Folk School to offer learning experiences in traditional arts, such as pottery, fine arts, spinning, weaving and sculpting within the unique surroundings of each village. The county would be the “campus,” with more than 42 classes offered to adults, parents, children and their families. The goal is to connect the “inner child” often lost in the hustle and bustle of modern-day life.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
