DCA announces six finalists for 2010 Iowa Great Places program
For Immediate Release September 15, 2010
Site visits include Albia, Elk Horn, Lamoni, Manchester, Vinton and Webster/Hamilton counties
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Department of Cultural Affairs today announced six Iowa communities have been named finalists for the 2010 Iowa Great Places program.
The Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board and DCA staff will conduct site visits Sept. 20-21, 2010, to Albia, Elk Horn, Lamoni, Manchester and Vinton, and to Webster/Hamilton counties. Iowa’s newest Great Places will be announced Oct. 22, 2010, in Des Moines.
Now in its sixth year, Iowa Great Places encourages communities to work together to achieve a better quality of life for their 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 are 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.
More information about Iowa Great Places can be found at www.iowagreatplaces.gov.
Following is this year’s site visit schedule, and themes and summaries of each community’s proposal:
Monday, Sept. 20, 2010
Albia
9-10:30 a.m.
Chamber of Commerce Building
18 South Main Street, Albia
“All Roads Lead to Albia” – Albia and Monroe County have a proposal comprised of three projects: construction of a memorial park for service men and women called “Welcome Home, The Soldier Monument;” The Albia Reservoir Trails, a 160-acre park on Highway 5; and a historical remembrance of Buxton, the former mining town in rural Monroe County that once had 5,000 residents.
Lamoni
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Lamoni Community Center
108 Chestnut Street, Lamoni
“Doorway to Iowa” – Lamoni wants to enhance its Main Street and downtown business district with a streetscape project comprised of unique, artistic benches and artwork; corridor beautification and sculpture trail along Highway 69 from Interstate 35 to downtown Lamoni; renovation and celebration of the Lamoni Coliseum that will make the stage suitable for live performances in addition to movies; and development of elderly-friendly neighborhood sidewalks that are accessible to the downtown core.
Elk Horn
4-5 p.m.
Danish Villages-Danish Immigrant Museum
4210 Main Street, Elk Horn
Danish Villages-Elk Horn and Kimballton – The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton will become known as a model green community, based on practices currently used in Denmark. The community’s proposal focuses on its “bridge from the past,” showcasing the authentic Danish Wind Mill, Danish Immigrant Museum and Little Mermaid attractions. The proposal includes building the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park at the museum site; a multi-use Danish Villages Conference Center, Fire Station and green Energy Academy; and the Little Mermaid Recreational Trail and Park Improvements with public art focusing on the works of Hans Christian Andersen.
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010
Webster-Hamilton counties
9-10:30 a.m.
Willow Ridge Golf Club
1788 Madison Avenue, Fort Dodge
“Where the Rivers Run Wild” – Webster and Hamilton counties are focusing on the area’s recreational benefits. Their proposal includes The Fort Dodge Trails & Riverfront project, which includes a three-mile hard surface trail along the Des Moines Riverfront in Fort Dodge; the Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park expansion and 25-site campground with two family camping cabins; a Fort Dodge Downtown Plaza that connects trails and the pedestrian loop to the future Community Festival Lawn; a 14,400-square-foot Outdoor Convention Center in the Briggs Wood Recreation Area; and a 21,456-square-foot regional Brushy Creek Environmental/Education Center located in the heart of Brushy Creek State Recreational Area.
Manchester
1-2:30 p.m.
F & M Bank
101 E. Main Street, Manchester
“Good to Great” – Manchester is striving for greatness by enhancing its natural environment and recognizing its heritage. Its first project is a whitewater park and trail system that will link Backbone State Park to the Manchester area. The second project is the beautification and branding of the entire Manchester downtown area with a compelling streetscape and marketing theme. The third component is a walking tour that will use artistic markers to capture the unique aspects of many historical houses and buildings in town.
Vinton
3:30-5 p.m.
Palace Theatre
210 W.4th Street, Vinton
“A Family Friendly Community” – Vinton’s proposal focuses on a Vinton Event and Community Center as a multi-use fitness, event and meeting facility; Life’s Journey Celebration Art Park, a river walk and proposed bicycle/walking trail of 1.2 miles that will have public art displays; and Life’s Journey River Walk, a 6.8-mile recreational trail master plan linking the Cedar River to Vinton.
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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.
