Exciting Changes to Marion Tower Square Plaza for 2021

The summer of 2021 is shaping up to be an exciting time of exploration and fun with friends again. Marion Tower Square Plaza is taking the excitement to a new level with improvements to make downtown Marion even more enjoyable. These changes are designed to make it easier to head into the plaza and take in its sights, shops, restaurants, and activities. At VW of Marion, we are proud to be a part of the Marion community and can’t wait to see the new look of Marion Tower Square Plaza when the project is finished. Here’s what you need to know about these exciting developments.

The New and Improved Tower Square Plaza

Marion Tower Square Plaza is already a wonderful place to spend an afternoon with friends or family, with more than 700 free parking spots available to access all the fun sights and activities or get a bite to eat. Unfortunately, finding and taking advantage of these spaces wasn’t always easy, and that’s where many of the best changes for 2021 come into play. This renovation project is designed to make Marion Tower Square Plaza more accessible than ever before as well as even more beautiful and enjoyable, to boot.

Coming Soon in 2021!

When all the renovations of Marion Tower Square Plaza are completed, there will be a lot to love about the new plaza. The project will offer many amenities for Marion residents to look forward to in the coming year, and many years to come, including:

• Technology-enhanced parking: While the current layout for Marion Tower Square Plaza includes more than 700 parking spaces, it has not always been easy to take advantage of them. The city is rolling out a new parking app that is designed to make it easier for you to find an open space so that you can quickly and efficiently park within walking distance to the Tower Square Plaza.
• Improved alley access: In order to get the full use of free parking around the area, you may find yourself in need of the alleys that connect the parking areas to the main plaza. While these pathways are convenient, there were concerns raised about how usable some of them were. So the city has heard and responded with changes that will significantly improve the experience. New lighting will make the alleys easier to use and will enhance safety at night, while murals and asphalt art will provide colorful visuals as you walk to your new or used car.
• Alterations to fountains and flower boxes: The fountains and flower boxes of Marion Tower Square Plaza make it a beautiful place to go for a walk, and the renovation plans include updates to their layout and appearance. Not only will these changes to the planters and fountains make the plaza even more beautiful, but they will also make it more accessible by creating more efficient pathways so you can get around with ease.
• Efficient traffic flow: The plans for renovations to Marion Tower Square Plaza began with a study of the traffic patterns of drivers and pedestrians in the area. Making the area’s traffic flow more effective was a primary goal of the redesign, so the plans call for significant improvements to the layout of the square. This means that the next time you take a trip downtown to visit the plaza to shop, have dinner or attend an event, you can plan on having a more enjoyable drive, as well as easy access to a nearby parking spot once you arrive.

“Flowers in the window box” licensed under CC BY 2.0 by Gail Frederick

More Developments Planned for Tower Square Plaza

While many of the developments underway for Marion Tower Square Plaza are planned to be completed by summer so you can enjoy them when the days are long and warm, there’s more to come in the months ahead. With even more development, the plaza promises to deliver an incredible experience during the winter and into 2022. Here are just a few of the developments to look forward to as Marion continues to develop the Tower Square Plaza into the place to be:

• A spray pad: Whether it’s the middle of summer or the middle of winter, the Marion Tower Square Plaza will have something to offer year-round when the construction is finished. A spray pad will be constructed in the middle of the plaza so you can catch a break from the heat with some refreshing and revitalizing water all summer long.
• An ice rink: Come winter, the spray pad will take on a new role — that of an ice rink. So when the temperatures get low, you can keep your spirits high by strapping on a pair of skates in the Tower Square Plaza and going for a spin around the ice. The city hopes to have the ice rink construction completed by Christmas 2021, with the splash pad ready to make its debut in 2022 when temperatures climb back up.
• Festivals: Improved access means the Marion Tower Square Plaza will be better suited to hosting events than ever before. Marion Mayor Mike Absher has spoken about plans to host a number of festivals at the plaza, providing locals and visitors with an excellent excuse to come downtown to have fun with members of the community. It should be a great time for everyone in attendance!

So there you have it, all the latest news on the exciting developments around Marion Tower Square Plaza. With so much in the plans for you to enjoy, it’s shaping up to be a great year to live in or near Marion.

What do you think about the changes to Marion Tower Square Plaza? What new amenity has you most excited to plan a trip downtown? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments section what you plan to do at the new and improved Marion Tower Square Plaza, or come on down to the dealership and visit with us in person. We can’t wait to meet you!