Grant brings renewed focus to Keystone Park

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Keystone Park in downtown Elkader is the site of a planned restoration project which just received a $5,000 contribution from ITC Midwest. (Photo by Willis Patenaude)

By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

 

A $5,000 contribution by ITC Midwest has brought renewed attention and support for the restoration of Keystone Park in Elkader. The contribution is stated to cover “essential assessments and planning” and will allow the city “to take the necessary first steps in rehabilitating Keystone Park,” said city administrator Jennifer Cowsert, who expressed gratitude for the contribution and eagerness to “move forward with the project.”

 

According to a press release regarding the contribution and responses received from Cowsert, the restoration project was put on hold during  rehabilitation of the Keystone Bridge, for which the park served as a staging area for construction crews, effectively making it “off line,” Cowsert said. With the bridge project effectively over, the Elkader Park Board and Main Street Design Committee “thought it was time to renovate the park,” Cowsert added. The press release indicated both entities have “turned their attention to revitalizing” the park.

 

This isn’t the first time revitalizing Keystone Park has been a topic of discussion. The Design Committee submitted a report to the city council in April 2017, presenting ideas it had generated at that time. Council minutes for that meeting noted ideas such as moving the gazebo and adding a water feature as well as more landscaping, but council members raised several concerns.

 

Three years later, Keystone Park was included in the 2020 Visioning Plan, when the city participated in the Community Visioning Program led in partnership by Iowa’s Living Roadways, Trees Forever, Iowa State University and the Iowa DOT.

 

A report, which included input from the community, noted how the “park inherently turns its back on the Turkey River,” and outside of an “inconspicuous stone staircase,” access is limited, as is visual access from Main Street. Proposed renovations listed in that report included opening up the space to provide more visual access, while also turning it into a venue for water recreation and other amenities.

 

Additional improvements listed were a picnic table, benches, an arch at the park entry, canoe and kayak launches and a path sloping down to the river. The report concluded the entire scope of the renovation, which also included adding sidewalks, grading, handrails and retaining walls, would cost over $500,000. At the time, Cowsert stated, “Most people’s reaction was that it would be expensive.”

 

Two years later, Keystone Park was overshadowed by the much larger and more necessary bridge project, an undertaking that delayed renovations further. The small “pocket park” on Main and Bridge streets was a place for construction equipment and not tourists. But then, a year ago, the bridge project was finally finished, and attention returned to the park.

 

“I think just the timing, now that it is back ‘online,’ they are interested in moving forward with ideas to renovate the park,” Cowsert said.

 

The renewed attention led to the grant through the Iowa Rural Development Council and funded by ITC Midwest, and is meant to cover what Cowsert termed “soft expenses” like engineering and architecture costs. This particular grant will go toward funding the structural study by MSA Professional Services, with a report expected at the beginning of next year.

 

The structural study was recommended by Main Street Iowa (MSI), which MSE enlisted for assistance on a proposed plan for the park. The necessity of the study is due to the strength of the retaining wall, which will likely dictate what future renovations can move forward. 

 

As an example, there was an early idea to use the railing from the bridge to replace or repair the railing in the park, but the weight of the railing raised questions about whether or not the wall could support it, so that idea has been put on hold.

 

Further repairs are expected, including the stone steps, which need some repointing. The brick walkway either needs to be redone or have the bricks reset, and there is a need to replace the information kiosk and look at the impact of drainage in the area.

 

Cowsert acknowledged that, beyond ideas to install some low maintenance landscaping, there is no comprehensive plan as far as the renovation goes, and much will depend on results of the study. However, smaller projects have been undertaken, such as reseeding and trimming some trees so more light gets in, increasing survivability of future landscaping. 

 

“We don’t have a plan for the park yet so we don’t have an estimate or know how it will be funded. The report from the structural analysis will help determine what can be done in the future…Other than landscaping, nothing has been discussed yet,” Cowsert said.

 

Once the study is finished, MSE will get some help from MSI, which is free of charge to Main Street communities. It is expected MSI “will come and look at a building and offer ideas for restoration.” 

 

In reaching out to MSI, the park board and design committee are bringing a “fresh perspective,” Cowsert said. “No one on either committee is a landscape architect or park planner, but they can enlist the help of Main Street Iowa and their design specialist.”

 

Although a plan is still in the making, the purpose is not. In the press release, ITC Midwest President Dusky Terry cited “enhancing the quality of life” for a reason behind funding projects like the Keystone Park restoration. Cowsert echoed that viewpoint, stating, “Park development in general enhances the quality of life of a community.”

 

“Environmentally, having a green space or pocket park is an area that is otherwise developed is beneficial to residents because it gives them a place to access the river, sit and have lunch or just sit. ‘Passive recreation is what it is called. Reducing stress is one benefit of passive recreation,” Cowsert added.

 

Two city council members responded when asked for comment on the importance of the project. Deb Schmidt said, “I think that any project that has restorations involved is always a plus. When your town is active in doing something for the betterment, it’s always a positive.”

 

Tony Hauber added, “Parks are fundamentally good investments. They promote both mental and physical health, increase property values, foster community, connect us with nature and provide a place where people can just exist with no commercial expectations.”

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