Washington wins more state awards

WASHINGTON — It’s been a big few weeks for the Washington Community. On the heels of a Great Places recognition in late July, the city was announced as an All-Star Community Award winner and #IowansUnite Community contest winner Aug. 2 and 3, respectively.

All-Star Award honors Wellness Park

Washington City Administrator Deanna McCusker announced Tuesday night that the city was one of three medium-sized communities in the state winning the All-Star Community Award, a nod from the Iowa League of Cities toward municipal accomplishments.

In this case, the recognition went to the Wellness Park completed last year.

“I think it’s a great project, it’s going to bring a lot of people to Washington,” McCusker said. “It’s just a good way to showcase what Washington is doing … if people are looking to relocate to a community in this population size, they’ll see that and go, ‘That’s, great, that’s a wonderful amenity to have in a city.’”

McCusker said the project set a good example for others in the state.

“Cities see what other cities are doing and how successful they have been,” she said. “I think it creates motivation for other cities … ‘If they can do it, so can we,’ that kind of thing.”

The award doesn’t bring grants or prizes to the city, but McCusker said it felt good for the hard work of city staff to be recognized.

“It’s more to pat everybody on the back and say good job on this project,” she said. “Everybody in Washington recognizes how great the project was, but now other people out there have seen what our project is, and they appreciate the hard work.”

#IowansUnite wins a free mural in town

The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that Washington won its #IowansUnite CommUNITY Contest, an effort that earned the city a free mural in a currently undecided location.

Washington Chamber of Commerce Director Michelle Redlinger said the win was a team effort.

“That’s how we’re able to be more effective,” she said. “We’ve got cool volunteers and partners to help us get things accomplished.”

Much of that effort was driven by Isabella Santoro, the community member who also happened to write the essay selected for one of the contest’s challenges.

“It just gives me goose bumps,” Redlinger said in a news release. “She was an integral part of both steps that resulted in Washington being selected as the grand prize winner.”

Santoro, for her part, said she was passionate about the effort from the start. The downtown entrepreneur has taken part in several mural related efforts through other organizations, including the hotel-motel committee installation of a mural on the State Theater.

“It’s kind of been my life mission since I’ve lived in Washington,” she said. “When I saw the opportunity for the contest, I’m like, ‘You can’t win if you don’t play, let’s give it a shot.’ This lines up with everything I stand for.”

The location of the 1,500 square foot mural is currently undecided. Contest guidelines say it must be installed in the entrant’s local shopping district or in the downtown area, with completion by the end of the year.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com