Efforts continue to establish downtown park
IMAGE COURTESY OF MDIO
This schematic drawing shows an overhead view of what a downtown “pocket park” at Third and Main might look like. The Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization is working to acquire two parcels of land on the southwest corner of the intersection that could be turned into such a park, envisioned as containing trees, flowerbeds, decorative masonry and a fountain or “water feature.”
Plans for a downtown “pocket park” at the southwest corner of Third and Main streets — a stated goal of the Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization for nearly two years — moved a step closer to reality this week with the signing of an agreement between MDIO and landowners Michael and Sue Burch of Ravenwood.
MDIO Board President Matt Gaarder said Wednesday the agreement, which has been reviewed by an attorney, calls for the sale of property, consisting of one of two adjoining parcels proposed for the park, to the downtown booster group by September 30 — provided MDIO can come up with the cash.
Gaarder said the organization has already paid $5,000 toward the agreed-upon $50,000 purchase price and has about $12,000 in hand toward covering the $45,000 balance.
The two lots have been vacant since fire destroyed a pair of commercial buildings and several upper-story apartments there in Aug. 2011.
The smaller, southernmost lot was purchased from Kam Wong, who owns several downtown properties, in 2015 for $18,000 by a group of local businesspeople working through the non-profit Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri.
The foundation handed the land over to Nodaway County Economic Development who plans on deeding it to MDIO. That transfer hasn’t happened yet, but will, Gaarder said.
A similar effort is envisioned to raise money for buying the second parcel, but Gaarder said donations this time can be made directly to MDIO, which has achieved status as a 501(c)(3) corporation, meaning gifts in support of the organization are tax exempt.
The City of Maryville is not involved in efforts to purchase the property, but a recommendation for construction of a small park downtown was included in the city’s comprehensive plan, which was drafted before MDIO was formally organized.
Gaarder said now that a deal with the Burches is in place, fundraising efforts will begin. He added that local farmer and businessman Joe Baumli, who led efforts to raise money for the first parcel, remains involved in the project.
About $33,000 must be raised over the next three months for the sale to happen.
“We all feel confident that we’ll be able to raise the money,” said Gaarder, adding that a number of potential donors who expressed interest earlier asked to be re-contacted as the project moved forward.
Should MDIO acquire the property as planned, Gaarder said the next steps will be to come up with a final design for the park, then launch a third round of fundraising for its construction.
A preliminary schematic of the park shows trees, flower beds, ornamental masonry, benches and a fountain or other type of “water feature.”
While finding occupants for vacant downtown buildings and bringing in new retail and office enterprises remains the top priority for MDIO, Gaarder said he believes a little open space will spur growth in the future.
“In the grand scheme of things, we want people to have a reason for going downtown,” he said. “If you have benches and trees and the water feature, people are going to have a place to go. And people who work downtown will have a place to take a break or eat lunch.”
At a recent “place-making” seminar in Kansas City, Gaarder said some of the discussion revolved around ways to create interest in central business districts, because interest attracts people and people attract businesses.
“They (business owners) are going to look at those people and say, ‘Oh, guess what, those are potential customers,’” he said.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Two small vacant lots at the southwest corner of Third and Main have been proposed as the location of a downtown “pocket park.” The Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization is in the process of acquiring one of the parcels from Nodaway County Economic Development and has a deal in place to purchase the second, larger lot from a private landowner.
