Following $1.9 million renovation, Greene Square dedication scheduled for Friday

CEDAR RAPIDS — Greene Square is the oldest green space in Cedar Rapids.

And thanks to a $1.9 million renovation — the first such improvement in 33 years at the site — the downtown park now has new life and a fresh look, complete with a kid-friendly water feature, avenue of trees, updated seating and an impressive sculpture by California artist Bruce Beasley.

On Friday, city leaders and residents are set to celebrate with a dedication ceremony. The event gets underway at 10 a.m. when officials open a time capsule buried at the site in 1976. The items are to be displayed in the park throughout the day, which also includes a 1 p.m. ribbon cutting and the start up of the new fountains at 2 p.m.

The public is invited to attend all of the events.

'The finished park renovation is beautiful,' said Sven Leff, director of the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, which is hosting Friday's festivities. 'Already we have seen people enjoying the shaded seating, eating lunch at the park tables and taking photos in front of the sculpture.

'I think the vision of a vibrant, contemporary public space has been achieved and will be loved by people for years to come.'

Related: Q&A with the man behind the Green Square sculpture

The public space, formerly known as Greene Square Park, was first envisioned in 1843 when early Cedar Rapids leaders George Greene and Nicholas Brown included the green space as part of the layout of the street grid. Over the years, the park has gone through numerous names: 'The Park,' 'The Depot Park' and 'Washington Square.' The park has been host to numerous political candidates over the years, dating back to Stephen Douglas who ran against Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in 1860, according to Gazette archives. Greene Square is located at 400 Fourth Ave SE and serves as a connector between the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

'It's a tremendous improvement on the park,' said Amber Mussman, community relations manager for the library. 'We feel very connected to the art museum; being able to have a physical connection is tremendous.'

Beasley's $225,000, coil-like, brushed stainless steel sculpture, titled Rollic, aims to visually support that connection.

'I feel Rollic embodies many of the qualities that define Cedar Rapids: bold form, welcoming presence, energetic composition, timeless, enduring materials, and easy confidence,' Beasley said. 'I hope Rollic becomes a favorite destination and landmark for the Cedar Rapids community.'

The redesigned park has four quadrants, two of which feature open areas that were requested by the public through various input sessions city officials held while plotting a future vision for the space.

The Parks and Recreation Department and other organizations plan to provide public programs in the grassy areas. For example, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. from June 4 through Aug. 13, a yoga class is to be held each Saturday in the park for free. The library also plans to host programs there, including the Summer Dare Celebration from 10 a.m. to noon on July 30.

Greene Square also is to be home for the city's iconic Christmas tree, which is to sit directly in front of the library during the holiday season each year.

The park also features curved-seat walls, table seating for up to 100 people and Wi-Fi capabilities.

One of the more striking features is a 28-by-34-foot interactive spray pad that visitors can activate by pressing a green button near the feature. At night, LED lights illuminate the fountains. Children — and those young at heart — are welcome to splash in the fountains.

OPN Architects Inc. served as the architect and Kleiman Construction the general contractor for the improvements, which began last June.

According to city officials, more than 45 percent of the funds to complete the project came from private resources. The city contributed $1 million, the Hall-Perrine Foundation donated $250,000 and the remainder came from contributions raised by the city and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

Linn County contributed $225,000 for the sculpture, including material, fabrication and installation costs. Funding for the sculpture came from the sale of the historic Mott Building, a circa 1900 structure along the Cedar River near downtown. Linn County sold the Mott Building to Hobart Historic Restoration for $500,000. Hobart is restoring and redeveloping the building.

Beasley, who lives in Oakland and plans to be at Friday's dedication, was chosen by the Greene Square Public Art Selection Committee from among nearly 200 nationwide entries, city officials said.

'Linn County is proud to be a part of this public-private partnership to renovate Greene Square. We look forward to all Linn County residents and visitors enjoying what Greene Square has to offer,' said Ben Rogers, chairman of the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

'It needed a face-lift,' added Leff from the Parks and Recreation Department. 'It creates a cultural center downtown.'