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Downtown Nancy Nathan Park concepts aim to create a small performance and play destination; staff eye grants and phasing
Summary
City parks staff showed Confluence concept renderings for a downtown park at the former Sears site, describing a raised performance area, play surfaces, under-bridge activation and phasing with phase 1 estimated above $600,000 and phase 2 above $500,000.
City parks staff presented concept plans on July 13 for a proposed downtown park (referred to in the packet as Nancy Nathan Park) on the former Sears site. Staff credited Main Street Iowa and design firm Confluence for early input and described features including a raised performance/stage area using the site's slope, seating, a synthetic play surface, public art, lighting and potential infrastructure to host food trucks or a small market beneath the adjacent bridge.
Staff said the concept is intended to create a downtown gathering place tied to nearby destinations such as Snake Alley, and noted that roughly 300-plus residential units downtown increase demand for nearby public space. Preliminary phasing estimates presented to council put phase 1 costs at over $600,000 and phase 2 over $500,000; staff said they would pursue grants, foundation support and partnerships to reduce city capital exposure and would evaluate the park's priority within the broader parks master plan.
Council members generally praised the concept but one member urged attention to balancing downtown investments with neighborhood street and infrastructure needs. Staff said the design is conceptual and not final and that additional community input and grant-seeking would follow.
