Marion City Council eyes upgrades to City Square Park

MARION — To skate or not to skate?

That will be the question the Marion City Council will have to decide regarding the highly anticipated Central Plaza upgrades at City Square Park, which may or may not include a seasonal ice ring.

The council, presented with Central Plaza survey results during its work session Tuesday night, learned the majority of the 700 survey respondents like the overall idea of upgrading the landmark park.

The council is scheduled to vote Thursday about proceeding with the project.

“The survey went out in August and the response number was fantastic,” Community Development Director Tom Treharne told the council. “It shows there is interest here, and people are paying attention.”

Over the years, the park has been a community centerpiece for events like the summer concert series, Marion by Moonlight and Uptown Getdown, farmers markets and the Marion Arts Festival.

Between the events, the park and its historic train depot see little usage. Fifty-four percent of the survey respondents said they had visited the park in the past year, and 68 percent said they visit the park for events and festivals.

Last month, the city received $3 million of federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated by the state’s Destination Iowa grant program.

The Central Plaza upgrade has been on the city’s wish list since Marion’s visioning process in 2018. Upgrading the plaza, with ice ring included, would cost around $6.6 million.

The upgrade, if approved, would begin after the Uptown Marion Seventh Avenue streetscape project and North Plaza on 11th Street are completed this fall.

The park's redesign includes an area that could be transformed into the ice-skating ring around the “peace tree,” a holiday centerpiece, during the winter. Also planned are flexible outdoor seating, water features, a play structure, an event stage and space for festival and market tents.

The train depot also could see some upgrades, including a potential warming house during the winter, restrooms and mechanical rooms for the water features.

A slight majority of survey takers favored enclosing the train depot for four-season use, including rental space. The remainder said they had no preference or want the depot to remain as is.

Most of the survey takers were supportive of functional art within the park, including benches, bike racks and tables.

“The response was tremendous,” Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said. “I think the results indicate general support.”

Council member Grant Harper said he was concerned about having to make a decision this week to keep the project on track.

“There are some elements that I have yet to be compelled to think would be a great idea and that includes the ice loop,” Harper said.

Around 40 percent of the survey takers said they were unlikely to use an ice loop; 36 percent said they would be likely to use it; and 23 percent said they might use it.

Marion City Manager Ryan Waller said one of the next steps being talked about is to hire a fundraising consultant to help raise funds more effectively for the large project. “to make sure we’re all on the same page and not bumping into each other.”

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