Feb. 18, 2008
Governor Culver pictured with Charles City Major Jim Erb signing the official Great Places Memorandum of Understanding. Also pictured: National 19th Amendment Society Representative Toni Noah, City Administrator Tom Brownlow, and Senator Amanda Ragan.
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Chet Culver signed agreements with Iowa’s seven new Great Places today, creating work plans designed to make each – Appanoose County, Davenport, Decorah, Charles City, Council Bluffs, Perry and Valley Junction of West Des Moines – a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Iowa Great Places is a state initiative that brings together state resources and local assets to build capacity in communities, regions, neighborhoods or districts to cultivate the unique and authentic qualities that make them special.
“The Great Places program is one of a kind, and truly reflects the possibilities that exist when state resources are coupled with local initiatives,” said Governor Culver. “I’m proud to meet the hard working people who breathe life into this outstanding program.”
Today’s signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) will authorize the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) to oversee the objectives outlined in each community’s work plans. The MOU describes technical and financial assistance to be offered by State departments to achieve each community’s goals. Culver called on each department to be generous in their support of Iowa’s newest Great Places and thanked them for their assistance in this collaborative endeavor.
Following is a list of Great Places that had Memorandums of Understanding signed with the state Monday, their visioning statements and summaries of their project proposals:
Appanoose County – A Unique Sense of Place: A multitude of 52 cultures and nationalities settled, prospered and raised their children with an ability of overcoming challenges and the resilience to meet and change with the times.
Restoration of Ritz theatre.
Development of 545 acres Lelah Bradley Active Campus that includes trails, natural habitat, reservoirs, sport fields and community gardens.
Rathbun multi-use trail connecting Rathbun Snow trails and the new trails in Honey Creek Resort State Park.
Charles City – America’s Hometown: Showcase Charles City as a great place to live, work and play. The only remaining structure in the Midwest dedicated to one of the premier advocates of women’s suffrage in the United States that resulted in passage of the 19th Amendment, along with a unique kayak rodeo for outdoor usage.
Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home & Education into education, enlightenment and awareness of suffrage rights and their relationship to rights of women.
Riverfront development of kayak rodeo, ravine area, park entrance enhancement, storm water fountain and CW trail augmentation.
Council Bluffs – The River’s Edge at Iowa’s Leading Edge: Enhance the Council Bluffs image within the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area by diversifying tourism opportunities, increasing commercial and housing activities and improving the quality of life for western Iowans.
Development of former Playland Park site into mix use neighborhood offering unique living and working environment.
Development of riverfront park to encourage access to Missouri River and public art.
Complete enhancements of pedestrian bridge linking Council Bluffs and Omaha riverfront developments.
Sustainable expertise and programming forum for activities in riverfront park.
Davenport – Iowa’s Front Porch: At the crossroads of America, this city has intrigued entrepreneurs, adventurers and explorers for centuries. It is planning its future on education, arts and neighborhoods that are steeped in the rich history of the state and country.
Centennial Park is a 58-acre former industrial area and will turn into a gathering place for the community with a state-of-the-art skate park, basketball courts, and informal play and concert area with active recreation, family play and picnic area.
Centennial Park spray ground, a 10,000-square-foot area featuring programmable and interactive play for young families without hazards for young children, based on a Mississippi River theme and a migratory flyway of the river.
Front Porch parkway that envisions water transportation on River Drive, farmer’s market and beautification that promotes Union Station as a visitor’s center and expands the River Drive skyway.
LeClaire Park enhancement of Main Street pier, sculpture garden, family activity center, nature area, fountain area and Brady Street Bowl.
Decorah – A Healthy Community: A healthy community is reflected in its physical attributes, successful business environment and active citizen participation that brings tourists to a beautiful spot that is set apart from much of Iowa with its limestone bluffs and scenic river ravine.
Development of Health Center and development and rehabilitation of visitor’s center and community recreation/education center.
Continuation of 12-mile trail.
Local food and fitness center along with $500,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation to increase consumption of healthy food in rural communities.
Perry – Living the Small Town Dream: A hometown that enriches its residents, fosters a sense of community, provides the basics and celebrates their significance with a shared experience and appreciation of diverse cultures.
Downtown revitalization focused on beautification, improved infrastructure and creation of pedestrian friendly walkways.
Town Craft Center to help small communities envision a sustainable future through creative approaches to development with Iowa State University College of Design and Iowa State Extension.
Recreation/Brownfield/Interpretative Center – includes connection of trails of Raccoon River Valley, Hiawatha Trail and Galloping Goose Trail.
Reintroducing bays of original roundhouse and certain buildings of railroad center and creation of educational center for railroad history and immigrant center to fully explore the immigrant experience from yesterday to today.
Valley Junction – Historic Valley Junction: Under Construction: Broad-based group of supporters that want to show how a small neglected part of the metro Des Moines area can rise from a derelict and neglected part of the larger suburban city and forge its own unique identity as a small village in suburbia.
Development of pattern book to promote walk ability and consistent small town feel for the village.
Public art.
Railroad Avenue and Valley Junction streetscape.
Small business incubator in restored railroad depot.
Trail connection from city to Raccoon River and to metro Des Moines.
State agencies continue to work with Iowa’s previously identified Great Places – Adams County, Clinton, Coon Rapids, Dubuque, Fairfield, Guttenberg, Jackson County, Mason City and Sioux City – to achieve their visions by identifying technical assistance and existing programs such as grant and financial aid programs, and the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit program.
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