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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
Historic residential district designation hopes to bring tourism opportunities to Newton By Pam Pratt Newton News Two new historical districts in Newton were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2020. Adding these residential districts to the city by the Historic Preservation Commission serves multiple purposes, not the least of which is to attract history buffs to town hoping to glimpse unique architecture from the early days of Newton. The location of the two new districts runs along First Avenue. The First Avenue West Historic District extends from 414 First Ave. W. to 622 First Ave. W., and the First Avenue East Historic District encompasses the area between 415 First Ave. E. to 629 First Ave. E., which also includes 5-10 Cardinal Court. HPC Chair Larry Hurto saw these districts as a natural extension of Newton’s current Historic Downtown District, which was added to the register in 2014. The residences are mostly examples of late19th and early-20th Century architecture with a few 20th century buildings included in the mix. A variety of styles
are represented, but the most popular include Bungalow, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Prairie Style and Mission Revival. “I’m not a real architecturally minded guy but I do think that this designation will bring to the attention of architecture historians some of the houses that are on First Avenue,” Hurto said. The houses themselves each have a story to tell and that’s what the HPC and volunteers dedicated more than 340 hours to uncovering those histories for the application process. The Historic Preservation Commission members who worked on the project included Hurto, Mary Jo Niskin, Rita Reinheimer, Tanya Michener and Ken Barthelman. While they all worked hard on the project Newton Community Development Director Erin Chambers wanted to make special mention of Reinheimer who served as project coordinator. “(It) was an added responsibility requiring extra time and energy to the project. We are all so appreciative of her willingness to serve in that role,” Chambers said.
Submitted Photo by Jason O’Brien Sayre House, 517 First Ave. E., is included in Newton’s newest historic districts along First Avenue East and First Avenue West.
One thing Reinheimer is passionate about, even after the designation, was to find a way to tell the stories the group has uncovered during their work. “Whenever we get a newspaper article or a radio interview, it’s a specific agenda that really hasn’t given us a chance
to tell the public some of the cool stories that go along with these businesses and the houses and the people who lived there. Somehow, at some point, I think that would be a good idea if we could get the opportunity to tell some of the stories that might interest people more than just the nuts
and bolts,” she said. Hurto hopes as the pandemic conditions improve, the commissioners may be able to arrange a few programs for the public to learn some of the history of these residences. Perhaps, if the homeowner DISTRICT | 2B
MAKING A SPLASH
Committee develops detailed splash pad project, which is being reviewed by city By Christopher Braunschweig Newton News For those who’ve looked closely at the City of Newton’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY22-FY26, the next fiscal year could make quite the splash. Although the CIP is not a strict guideline for what’s to come, the fact that a proposed splash pad construction project was even included as a line item has got to make the citizens who pitched the idea feel confident their vision is at least being considered. The city estimated $275,000 in general funds could be allocated to the splash pad construction in FY23. Also listed is $147,000 of private funds. In December 2020, members of the Splash Pad Committee pitched the idea to the Newton Park Board with the open-ended question: “If Newton had a splash pad…” Included were citizen testimonials of what a splash pad could do for the community, as well as mock images and potential estimates. “We met a lot of our friends that are still friends today at the local playgrounds just spending time with other families with young kids,” Chad Klein, of Eye Care Center of Newton, said in his testimonial. “I think this would just create another opportunity for young families
Submitted Photo A girl stands next to the title page, “Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story” by Zeena Pliska which was featured last fall at the StoryWalk at Agnes Patterson Memorial Park in Newton.
Submitted Photo Concept images of a proposed splash pad in Newton shows the facility surrounded by green space and with a built-in pathway to connect the Main Street District (downtown) to Legacy Plaza, two of the main areas of attraction in the city.
to gather together.” Presenters suggested the park board view the project as not just a splash pad, but as a green space, too. Concept art shows plenty of grassy areas with benches and a pathway leading to and from Legacy Plaza and downtown. Park board member Bryce Heitman, his wife and owner of Panglossian Design Keirstin Heitman and local dentist Jonathan Van Hemert helmed the initial presentation at the park board meeting before going before the city council. In addition to its water facilities, presenters said the pad would be a green space. The splash pad would be located at the city-owned lot at 224 W. Third St. N., west of Bank Iowa. Splash pads appear in a number of Iowa com-
munities, such as Clarksville, Clear Lake, Fort Dodge, Grinnell, McGregor, Spirit Lake and Walnut. Splash pads are often popular with families and young children. Presenters said splash pads are often established in central locations within cities and are always open to the public at no cost. Newton would be the same. “This isn’t something that’s behind lock and key,” Van Hemert said. “People can come and go at their leisure. They’re not paying an admittance fee. It’s basically something that the city or, in some cases, townships will offer that people can just really take advantage of without any real barriers to access.” SPLASH | 3B
‘Perfect addition’
Positive response to StoryWalk installed at Agnes Patterson Memorial Park By Pam Pratt Newton News A walk along the trail at Agnes Patterson Memorial Park can now take a person to a place of imagination as they dive into a story when they move along the path. Organizers of the StoryWalk® unveiled the addition to the Newton park in July 2020. It took collaboration and financial support of many community organizations to bring the StoryWalk to life. The Newton Public Library worked closely with Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy, the Newton Wellness Coalition and Friends of the
Newton Public Library to raise the funds for the project. Additionally, the Jasper County Health Department and Newton Parks Department worked to make the project come to life. After a year of planning, the new activity’s grand unveiling certainly wasn’t how anyone involved originally pictured it. “Since it was during 2020, it was hard to really promote it and have a big group of people there to go on a walk. We did what we could. We just hope that people enjoy it,” Kinetic Edge Clinic Manager Matt Scotton said. WALK | 2B