March 28, 2024

Carroll: Market On Maple a resounding success

By Gabe Carroll, Mayor of Creston

On April 24th, 2021, after nearly two years of planning and preparations, Maple Street( and part of Montgomery Street) came alive with the hustle and bustle of vendors and shoppers, dancers performing, food trucks, and live music. It was the culmination of a vision borrowed from the Rural Iowa Economic Development Summit, where Grundy Center laid out how they jump-started their revitalization efforts by showcasing their untapped downtown potential.

Led by a group comprised almost entirely of working women with young children who put in hundreds of hours of planning, in conjunction with help from the local Chamber of Commerce, Union County Development Association, and city staff, and funded by Greater Regional Health, Tyler Insurance Agency, FirstNational, PCSB and Iowa State Savings banks, what was first envisioned as a block of 12-20 vendors ballooned into an all-day celebration. The Spotlight School of Dance joined the team and had the bold vision of an outdoor dance recital, which added lively music and entertainment to the 40+ vendors that made the trek to set up shop on 3 blocks of Uptown Streets. Uptown businesses welcomed in patrons, providing a place to warm up. Hot Air Brewing provided not only beer, food and bathroom facilities, but also a venue for live music to cap off the day.

I’ve been a Crestonian for nearly all of my life, and I don’t remember many events that can compare to the scale and significance of The Market on Maple. Vendors did extremely well, food trucks were busy all day, local restaurants were full, families of dancers enjoyed the outdoor venue, there was something for everyone.

This event is a kick-off for theUptown Revitalization process. Think for a second...where else would an event like this be possible in our town? Our Uptown is the heart and soul of our city, and revitalization is the path to future prosperity and a return to a financially resiliency. Plans are in the works for more upper story living, renovated commercial space, parklets, a September Arts Festival. Creston is well on it’s way to making the Uptown the living room of our community. If you’d like to be involved with planning and executing future events, please contact “Gabe is My Mayor” on Facebook, email me at gabriel.jon.carroll@gmail.com, or contact the Union County Development Association through its website: https://www.unioncountyiowa.com/