Schickel talks about positives ahead for Mason City in 2025 (VIDEO)

MASON CITY — Mason City mayor Bill Schickel gave the annual “State of the City” address at last night’s meeting of the City Council.

Schickel says positive things are ahead for the city in 2025, spearheaded by the opening of the Prairie Rock Trails Bike Park that’s part of the city’s Destination Iowa project to improve trails around the community, the completion of the Riverwalk project, as well as moving forward with the hotel portion of the River City Renaissance project.

Schickel says the improvements Mason City has been making are paying off.  “Lives are being changed for the better. Yes, we are building awesome amenities here in Mason City, but we’re also building what I call human capital. Human potential, the most vital asset any community can have.  It’s the very best return on investment possible.”

Schickel says the city’s new amenities are producing positive results.  “Ben Muldro works with the Main Street communities across the country. He recently told our team the city has the lowest cost of living for a community with our amenities than anywhere in the country — and here’s a little more breaking news tonight — the Iowa Bicycle Coalition is announcing that Mason City will be a study for an economic impact report to be released on January 25th at the Iowa Expo in Des Moines which draws about 5000 people.”

Schickel says the Prairie Rock Trails system, the bike park and the Riverwalk district will be touchstones of healthy outdoor recreation for young and old alike in Mason City. “I met a dad, he was with his son out on the Evans Preserve trail. He said that trails like this are helping keep young people out of trouble. Here’s how he put it to me. He said if we had something like this when I was a boy, I probably wouldn’t have gotten in the trouble that I did. Evans Preserve, yesterday a magnet for litter, drugs and crime — today a tapestry of  transformation — tomorrow, an enhanced natural habitat and gorgeous recreation destination.”

You can see Schickel’s “State of the City” address by clicking here with the speech starting at the 3:25 of the video