Ribbon cutting held for Riverwalk, plaza to be named in honor of Mason City’s long-time mayor

MASON CITY — The grand opening was held earlier this morning for the Riverwalk District and Waterfront Plaza in downtown Mason City. The south end of the Southbridge Mall parking lot has been transformed into an inviting, usable space incorporating the natural environment next to Willow Creek, and it helps link the community’s cultural amenities as well as recreational and leisure venues with the downtown area.

Mayor Bill Schickel says what was once an eyesore has now been transformed into an inviting area.  “This is a perfect example of Mason City’s heritage in music, architecture and outdoor recreation.”

Kristy King of Bergland and Cram was the architect for the project. She says the redevelopment of the area allows people to better embrace Willow Creek.   “This area where we all stand, if we can remember what it looked like just a year ago — probably not, because it was pretty non-descript right? It was a bit of an overgrown edge of a parking lot, so overgrown in fact that you couldn’t even visually see Willow Creek, which was probably about 30 feet from you. So that was also one of the driving goals, the intention to change that, to reverse that. As River City, let’s embrace Willow Creek, acknowledge it, and enhance our engagement with it.”

King says the Riverwalk serves as a gateway to the downtown area.   “As people come into our downtown, this spot really is a visual gateway into our downtown, which is the heart of our community. We also recognize that there’s a lot of dead ending of pedestrian traffic in this area, people coming from our new investments in residential, coming to and fro from downtown in our amenities and over into our cultural crescent. This really more than just being a sidewalk is now an experience to receive those people and also access our new visual gateway.”

City Administrator Aaron Burnett made a special announcement at the end of the ceremony, saying the city has decided to name the plaza in honor of Mason City’s long-time mayor for his leadership   “Fortunately our community has had someone making this happen for several decades with his passion for art, architecture, music, community, placemaking and general enthusiasm and positivity. There’s no more fitting place than this gathering place for the community surrounded by art and nature to honor a great leader for decades. That’s why it’s my pleasure to announce this plaza shall be named Bill Schickel Plaza in honor of his leadership.”

The Riverwalk is one of the largest features in the city’s trail system, linking more than 20 miles and 600 acres of trail and parks.  One of the other key features, the Prairie Rocks Trails Bike Park, is scheduled to have its grand opening later this year.

Funding for the bike park and Riverwalk was part of a $4.5 million Destination Iowa grant