Washington named an ‘Iowa Cultural and Entertainment District’

WASHINGTON — Municipal officials say Washington has received a 10-year designation from the state of Iowa, naming part of the city a “cultural and entertainment district.”

It joins 18 other communities holding the title, a list that includes areas of Ames, Mason City, Iowa City, Burlington and Fairfield, according to a state website.

Mayor Millie Youngquist said the status emphasized Washington’s numerous concerts, events, art-based businesses, and murals as well as more unusual features like the library makerspace, Farm to Film Festival, and world’s oldest continuously operating movie theater.

“I think it draws people’s attention to businesses or locations, how important arts are to the community,” she said. “The overall focus is tourism, bringing people to town … it’s more of a recognition of what we are. Hopefully it will lead to some additional programming or events.”

Youngquist said she hoped the status could also help local projects attract grants and public support.

The district covers Washington’s downtown, but extends a few blocks into other neighborhoods, including the Second Avenue underpass, the nearby historic train depot, and Madison Park. The mayor said she hoped future projects in those areas would find success thanks to the designation.

“There are grants — not specifically for this cultural and entertainment district — but there are grants available with the arts in mind in the state,” she said. “We have some projects we’re eyeing for the future that could be part of this district, like a trailhead for the Kewash Trail, or other things like that.”

Officials plan to put up signs around the cultural and entertainment district, according to Youngquist, who said the initially received the markers by accident when it ordered others to celebrate its designation as an “Iowa Great Place” in 2022.

The Great Places program was quietly shut down by state decision-makers last year, but Youngquist said the initial mishap inspired an application for the newfound cultural status.

“We received the signs by accident … and then the more I got to thinking about it, I realized how many different cultural assets we have” Youngquist said.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com