Council OKs permanent downtown pocket park proposal
Sasha Primo announced as phase one project artist
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A vacant city-owned lot at the corner of 1st Street and West Main Street will get new life as the latest pocket park in Marshalltown after the city council officially approved an amended agreement with the Arts + Culture Alliance during last Monday night's regular meeting.
City Parks and Recreation Director Kelsie Stafford explained that the permanent project was based on overwhelming positive feedback within the community and support from both the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) and the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. The city, she added, will save $800 to $1,000 per year in contract mowing costs but will incur about $50 per year in costs to maintain the vegetation.
"The park will require watering and minimal weed control in the first 1 ½ to two years but will continue to be low maintenance in the future as carefully selected perennials, trees and bushes establish," she said.
The plan, designed by Parks Supervisor Kristin Titus, is designed with no grass areas to be as maintenance friendly as possible. During the council question period, Councilor Gary Thompson reiterated his preference that the ACA, a private nonprofit organization that has an annual contract for services in place with the city, should own and operate the park instead of the city itself because of the low annual cost.
Stafford responded by laying out the initial expenses she had already mentioned and said the funding would come out of dollars already allocated in the existing agreement with the ACA. ACA Executive Director Amber Danielson told Thompson that her organization is not prohibited from purchasing land but is not as positioned to maintain it as the city is.
"We are not a parks and rec organization. This is a pocket park, and we are not equipped to own and maintain this," she said. "This pocket park has been in the plans for quite some time. It has been stagnant. Essentially what we did was bring the community together to tell us that this is what the community wants."
The pocket parks, she added, are part of the Downtown Master Plan, and the ACA's job is to act as a partner to the city through its contract for services. The West Main Street proposal will happen in phases as more community feedback is shared.
"Funding for this, similar to the Linn Creek District projects, has been relatively easy because when we build projects alongside the community and do it in a unique way, people want to invest in that. So I anticipate these projects getting more fundraising and more funds in place so that we can do more than what we see before you," Danielson said.
During the public comment period, Layne Pieri asked about whether the city would become responsible for finishing the project if fundraising falls short, and Stafford said the city would not be obligated to bridge the gap in any funding. A motion to pass the agreement then passed by a unanimous 7-0 vote.
In a subsequent press release issued Sunday, the ACA announced that artist Sasha Primo of Buenos Aires, Argentina, would be returning to Marshalltown to work on the first phase of the project. He previously completed four neighborhood murals here back in 2023.
"Now, three years later, Primo returns to help tell another chapter of the community's story. His concept, 'What the Tree Leaves', draws inspiration from the significant loss of Marshalltown's tree canopy following the 2018 tornado and 2020 derecho while looking toward continued growth, renewal and transformation," the release reads.
"Being back in Marshalltown to create this community gathering space feels very special to me. The artwork continues to reflect on the community's resilience after the storms, the trees that were lost, and those that will grow again, both literally and symbolically," Primo said. "This project represents a huge collective effort from so many people to create a space where the community can gather, play, and learn more about what makes Marshalltown unique. We're truly excited to bring this new art plaza to life!"
At the center of the concept is a "large-scale sculptural canopy" that will create a colorful, interactive focal point while providing shade and a place for residents and visitors to gather.
"This project is about so much more than transforming a vacant lot," Danielson said. "It is about taking a space that represents something our community lost and reimagining what can grow from it. We want to create places that invite people to pause, gather, connect and experience something unexpected. We are thrilled to welcome Sasha back to Marshalltown and watch this vision begin to come to life."
The project began in fall 2025 in partnership with the City of Marshalltown, the MCBD and Parks & Recreation with the goal of creating a space that encourages people to spend more time downtown, support nearby businesses and strengthen community connections.
"This pocket park is exactly the kind of investment that keeps a downtown moving forward. Vacant lots are one of the most damaging things a downtown can carry, and turning this space into a permanent, high-quality gathering spot sends a clear signal to visitors and investors that Marshalltown's downtown is a destination worth being part of," MCBD Executive Director Danielle Lekin said. "This project is a great example of what public and private partners can accomplish together, and I'm honored to continue working alongside dedicated professionals
who care deeply about this community. This vision has been on the horizon for a long time, and it's exciting to finally watch it become reality. We're incredibly fortunate to have an artist of Sasha's caliber lending his talents to Marshalltown, and this park will be one more reason our downtown continues to stand out as a destination across Iowa."
Community members can expect to see Primo working on site as Phase One progresses and are encouraged to stop by, watch the process unfold and follow the ACA for behind-the-scenes updates. The project has already received a $15,000 grant from AARP for their Creative Placemaking Community Challenge Grant. Additional fundraising and community partnerships are underway to complete future phases of the park, with the full project anticipated to be completed by the Spring of 2027.
Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.