Preserve Marion City Square Park in its current form

The Uptown City Square Park in Marion has had a long history of being the gathering site for many of the city’s celebrations and events. This pleasant open green space with crossing sidewalks has allowed for a pleasant setting form many various music events, art events, Christmas gatherings and other cultural and civic events. It is a place where our veterans are remembered, via the American Legion eternal torch, and the history of our country via the Civil War Soldier statue, and the cannon. It also includes the stately railroad pavilion and a caboose.

The present very tasteful open-air grassy park in Uptown Marion, has for over 150 years been a focal point and gathering point for the citizens of Marion. It is a small area that has been well used. The openness of the park has allowed for a great deal of diversity in the usage of the green space. It has held thousands of people at concerts or just one enjoying the day in Uptown Marion.

Over the past 20 years there has been a great deal of change going on along Seventh Avenue, Sixth Avenue and in Uptown Marion. The city and citizens are now at the crossroads of deciding what if any changes would be appropriate to occur at City Square Park.

There are discussions underway at Marion City Hall that could result in considerable changes to this beautiful park area. The city developers and City Council are presently considering these changes. The major change would be to eliminate a sizable amount of the green space in the park, including the trees in those areas, to build an ice-skating rink.

In the March 2022 edition of the Marion Messenger there is a graphic presentation of what the park would look like with the ice-skating rink and other changes. The ice rink would be an oval rink with a cross section of ice which also will require a mechanical support system to keep the ice frozen. Other changes being proposed are to remove the caboose from the park and relocate it to another area in the city, site yet not announced, and then build a flower garden in the area where the caboose presently sits, to build a permanent stage along the north side of the park along Seventh Avenue and to upgrade the restroom facilities attached to the pavilion.

Quoting Brooke Prouty, Uptown Mainstreet Director, “Marion Square Park is an iconic and beloved piece of Marion that we want to see preserved but also enjoyed and activated by the community.” I agree with Brooke, the city needs to preserve this iconic piece of Marion. And I too have observed much enjoyment in this park over my years of living in Marion. As for “activated by the community,” if it means removal of the history and green space in the park, I do not agree.

The article in the Marion Messenger stated, “The goal is to maintain the character and charm of the park while enhancing its features for all ages to enjoy.” It also states, “This project aims to make this public place a fun place for residents to enjoy 365 days a year.” Yes, updates to the restrooms are needed, some replanting of trees lost due to the derecho should also occur and maybe repaint the caboose. Keep the lawns mowed, the sidewalks shoveled and in good repair so the charm of the park will be maintained, and Marion citizens and visitors will continue to enjoy this beautiful park 365 days a year, for years to come.

My reason for writing this article is to express my appreciation for this park as it presently exists. I want the Marion citizens to be aware of these proposed changes so that those that may also appreciate the present City Square Park as it is, can have the opportunity to contact the mayor and Council members and express how they feel about the park as it presently is and their feelings regarding the proposed changes.

As for having an ice rink there is one available in Thomas Park along with a sledding hill in the winter.

Charley Knudsen lives in Marion.