Davenport mayor predicts new park will be ‘beacon of Midwest’

A large sign in downtown Davenport near the Mississippi River reads “Envision a revitalized riverfront. A destination to remember.” In the coming months, that sign will be replaced by that destination – a four-season recreational area called Main Street Landing. That 10-acre park will span between Main Street and the roller dams and will feature […]

A large sign in downtown Davenport near the Mississippi River reads "Envision a revitalized riverfront. A destination to remember.” In the coming months, that sign will be replaced by that destination – a four-season recreational area called Main Street Landing. That 10-acre park will span between Main Street and the roller dams and will feature play areas, water features, a multi-use space for sports and much more.

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“It will be one of the premier places in Iowa on Iowa’s front porch. … This will be the beacon of the Midwest,” Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said during a brief ground-breaking ceremony for Main Street Landing on a cloudy, cold Thursday afternoon, April 3. That ceremony was held near the Davenport Skybridge at Quinlan Court, which is part of the riverfront area that will be converted into the park. Tuesday’s ceremony attracted about 80 guests, mostly from the business community and City of Davenport. During the event, Davenport Alderwoman Marion Meginnis, 3rd Ward and mayor pro-tem, noted that the park project has been discussed, debated and planned for about 20 years. In fact, some people thought it would never become a reality. “I thought I would be pushing up daisies before this happened,” she said with a laugh as she turned over a shovel of dirt during the ceremony. Mainstreet Landing will be part of a series of riverfront improvements expected to cost more than $27 million. Those improvements will include a massive lighting project on the outside of the Figge Art Museum, a pedestrian bridge railroad crossing and other projects near the river. If all goes according to plan, Mainstreet Landing will be ready for thousands of visitors by the fall of 2026, said Clay Merritt, the City of Davenport’s director of engineering and capital projects. He added that some of the initial work people may notice on the riverfront in the coming weeks will be sewer installation and a lot of moving of dirt. During the ceremony, Mr. Merritt added that the Main Street Landing project – two decades in the planning stages – only moved from a dream to reality because of many partnerships with businesses, and city and state officials. One of the most important of those partnerships came in late 2022 when the city and the Figge Art Museum were selected for $9.6 million in grant funding through the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Destination Iowa Creative Placemaking Fund for the series of riverfront projects.  Some of the Main Street Landing features and other riverfront improvements include:

• Installation of a high-intensity, multi-generational experience zone that will include a signature tower structure, slides, climbing assets, an interactive water feature, and a space for winter activities.
• Creation of a passive activity zone near Lock and Dam 15 that highlights the scenic views.
• A pedestrian bridge railroad crossing. This will be a high-profile feature of the park. Picking up near Dillon Fountain near Main Street, the bridge will take people 25 feet up and over tracks, through the park and into the natural hillside area on the east side.
• Additions such as a new restroom facility, colorful LED lighting, shade structures, seating, and unique swing elements.
• Installation of a railroad quiet zone to reduce noise pollution and increase safety throughout the downtown. Quiet zones are areas where train crews are not required to sound their horn at crossings. Each of the 12 crossings from Mound Street to Marquette Street will be upgraded with safety improvements, including proper signals, signage, and pavement markings to qualify as quiet zones.
• Renovation and upgrade of the skybridge’s LED lighting system.
• Installation of artistic LED programmable lighting on the exterior of the Figge Art Museum that will boast more than 3,000 feet of colorful fixtures.
• Tuesday’s ceremony also featured a display of about 16 artist renderings showing different aspects of the new Main Street Landing. Renderings included a multi-use space in the park that can be used for pickleball, volleyball, winter ice skating and much more as well as a Main Street Plaza entry space; a hillside overlook; picnic area; a play tower for children; water features and more.
• Go here for more on the project and future updates on Main Street Landing.

The total cost of the riverfront improvements will be $27.3 million. Here is a breakdown of the funding sources: State of Iowa, Destination Iowa grant, $9.6 million; American Rescue Plan Act, $6 million; CPKC Community Investment, $6 million; Figge Art Museum, private fundraising, $2.4 million; Federal Railroad Administration safety grant, $2.7 million; Regional Development Authority, $375,000; Scott County Regional Development Authority, $187,500, according to the City of Davenport. When complete, the new Main Street Landing park will not only be a great place that will attract thousands of out-of-town visitors. It will also be a place that will help improve the quality of life for area residents who want a riverfront they can be proud of, Katrina Keuning of Visit Quad Cities said during Tuesday’s ceremony. Mayor Matson has commented in the past that Davenport’s riverfront has not always been a place of civic pride. In fact, when the city received the $9.6 million state grant to help fund the project, Mr. Matson told the story of when he was a younger man and remembers the riverfront as a place nobody wanted to visit. “Years ago, there was a dump burning downtown,” he said in 2022. Today, times have changed. The Davenport riverfront has improved and is about to get a lot better, he said.  “The riverfront, years ago, was not a cool place to go. But, boy, it is now,” the mayor added.