www.iowagreatplaces.gov

Lt. Governor Patty Judge to formally recognize new Great Places Monday

(DES MOINES) – The Department of Cultural Affairs today announced Marquette/McGregor, Spencer, Warren County and West Union as Iowa’s next Great Places.

The announcement came after the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board concluded a three-day tour of the four finalist locations and made its recommendations to DCA Director Cyndi Pederson. Pederson approved the advisory board’s recommendations, bringing the total number of Iowa Great Places to 20.

Lt. Governor Patty Judge will formally recognize Iowa’s new Great Places at 1 p.m. Monday at the Capitol Building. The newly identified Great Places are expected to develop work plans and sign Memorandums of Understanding with the state later this year.

“This has been a terrific week for Iowa,” Pederson said. “We received letters of intent from 19 different communities, and four went through the application process this year. They shared their hopes and dreams for the future and showed remarkable commitment to their place and to the program. The interest, enthusiasm and energy shows there are people all over this state with the passion to achieve their vision.”

Iowa Great Places is a program that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa’s communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.

The program asks Iowans to develop proposals that 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 based on a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic.

State agencies continue to work with Iowa’s previously identified Great Places – Adams County, Appanoose County, Charles City, Clinton, Coon Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Decorah, Dubuque, Fairfield, Guttenberg, Jackson County, Mason City, Perry, Sioux City and Valley Junction of West Des Moines – 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.

Following is a list of this year’s newly identified Great Places, their visioning themes and proposed projects:

Marquette/McGregor - “The Great Spirit of Iowa”

· Driftless Area Wetland Center.

· Emma Big Bear Nature Trails & Nature Shelter.

· Marquette-Joliet Wildlife Observatory.

· Andrew Clemens Art Center.

Spencer - “Sparkle in Spencer & Ignite Your Imagination”

Spencer’s Grand Enhancements – Grand Avenue Boulevard & Bridge Revitalization.
Spencer Community Theatre Remodel & Expansion.
Parker Historical Museum Remodel & Expansion.
Adaptive Reuse of the Historic 1914 Old High School & 1937 Auditorium.
“Pathway to Information”- bringing Spencer’s cultural & historic assets to its people.
Continued expansion of the Little Sioux River Trail.

Warren County - “… your natural choice”

Scotch Ridge Center & Trails – 47-acre tract that will link Carlisle and Warren County to the Principal Riverwalk in downtown Des Moines.
Indianola Memorial Trail & Amphitheater.
Year-round stage for Balloon Classic Facility.
National Balloon Museum Addition and Educational Center.
Technical assistance for the Blank Performing Arts Center.

West Union - “A Green Pilot Community”

West Union has been chosen by the Department of Economic Development as one of two state communities that will be pilot statewide programs for Green Initiatives.
Redesign of the downtown streetscape.
Redesign that will make West Union neighborhoods walkable/bikeable.
Redesign of the Courthouse Square Plaza.
Energy efficient, zero-water runoff with geothermal sidewalks and ice and snow removal.

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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.