Take a Good Downtown and Make It Better
The Enhance Downtown Morris Master Plan represents the next step in a long history of city planning and continued strong interest in Downtown Morris. Efforts to improve downtown date back to the City’s first Downtown Master Plan, adopted in 1995. Implementation of key elements of that plan has helped to maintain downtown Morris as a thriving central place for shopping, dining, and community events. This new plan aims to take the downtown to the next level – to enhance an already healthy district and make it an even stronger center of civic life and regional destination for visitors.
Adapt + Thrive: Jump-Starting Implementation
Morris has been described as a Norman Rockwell kind of town (they even once had a restaurant called the Rockwell Inn that featured his artwork – ironically, that location is now a cannabis dispensary). The plan has the expected recommendations for redevelopment and adding more residents to downtown. However, the focus is much more on creating place through streetscape improvements and organizational / funding tools to help Morris continue to adapt and thrive.
The plan is full of colorful, creative, and relatively inexpensive ideas that can be done quickly to build enthusiasm and renew strength. Less than a year since adoption (adopted in August 2020) multiple projects are on the scene channeling activity, people, and economic vitality back into the Downtown Morris. Alleyways and sidewalks have been reinvented into al fresco dining… three murals, dozens of hanging planters, and fresh landscaping have been installed… temporary art installations and yarn bombs have taken up residence on light poles and benches… a new brand identity for the downtown has been designed and rolled-out… and we, are over here smiling. Morris' sense of place has never been stronger thanks to these colorful, quick, budget-friendly projects.
Downtown Morris has three new murals, including a large “Corn fest” mural with changeable dates and a new mural in the Grundy Bank/Weits Cafe alleyway.
A “Light-Up-Liberty” campaign was started to add festival lighting to five key downtown intersections. One intersection is already complete, and four more will be complete this summer. Other types of creative lighting have been added to the downtown, including cafe lighting in alleys and other public spaces where there is outdoor dining/seating and tree lights for additional decoration along downtown streets.
Downtown Morris was “yarn bombed” this spring with colorful knitted creations wrapped around light poles, trees, and pretty much anything else they could find to attach a fun and temporary splash of artistic flair. The plan promoted the concept of ‘do-it-yourself’ art displays and tactical urbanism – and the community ran with it!
While downtown had a series of planters, they were in odd locations and had a spotty history of maintenance. While the plan does recommend ultimate installation of new, more attractive planters, the City is using what they already have to make downtown a more vibrant place. Planters have been relocated and clustered at intersections, and new hanging baskets have been added to the existing decorative light poles. More importantly, the City has committed to a frequent watering program to ensure the health and maintenance of these plantings.
Opportunities for outdoor dining were very limited when this planning effort began. The plan suggested adding outdoor dining wherever possible – including alleys, sidewalks, rooftops, and parklets. The City quickly adopted some temporary measures last summer in response to COVID indoor dining regulations, and many restaurants jumped on board. The response has been amazing – looks like outdoor dining is here to stay in Downtown Morris!
Shortly after completing the plan, the MDDP retained a consultant to develop a branding program for Morris. While the program will be used by MDDP and the City, it is also hoped that other community organizations will join in efforts to promote Morris’s brand promise. Prospects look promising, as the Chamber has also been an active participant in the branding study.
Funding is critical to downtown improvements. The City has been working closely with local taxing bodies to extend their existing TIF covering downtown, and that effort has resulted in full support of an extension that will benefit downtown and all participating local governments.
Photo Credit: Teska unless otherwise noted
It was a joy for Teska to work with the community to develop the plan and we are ecstatic to see Morris emerging from the pandemic with such promise and vitality. Way to go, Morris!