A long-held dream of Mason City, made famous in “The Music Man” as “River City,” came to life when ground was broken on June 6, 2024, for the River City Riverwalk Project along the banks of the Willow Creek on the lower Southbridge Mall parking lot in downtown Mason City. This groundbreaking fulfilled a key goal of the city’s strategic plan.
The River City Riverwalk will showcase local and national artwork with landscaping celebrating Mason City’s rich heritage in music, art and nature.
The riverwalk is a premier feature in the trail system, linking more than 20 miles and 600 acres of trail and parks, including the new High Line Trail and Destination Iowa Bike Park near Lime Creek Nature Center.
To be located on the banks of the Willow Creek between Washington and Pennsylvania Avenues, the riverwalk raises awareness of the importance of the city’s rivers and integrating Willow Creek into downtown.
A gateway sculpture will feature classic Prairie School patterns with a contemporary flair. The cylindrical “Harmony In Light” sculpture draws inspiration from prairie style patterns utilizing durable laser cut stainless steel. Lighting and sunlight will splash engaging shadows on the surrounding area.
The sculpture is being designed by artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk of the HYBYCOZO Studios based in California. Their permanent public artwork installations have been placed throughout the world, ranging from the riverfront in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Institutions including the Smithsonian, Crystal Bridges and the Ulrich Museum have featured their work.
A goal of the artwork is “to create welcoming and meaningful gathering places for the community,” according to the artists.
A waterfront plaza wall will feature textured concrete highlighting the vertical language of the sculpture above. The sculpture and plaza will create a highly visible and welcoming gateway to Mason City traveling north on Highway 65.
Additionally, space is designated in the riverwalk to showcase permanent and rotating sculptures featured among the River City Sculptures on Parade sculpture walk exhibition.
Prairie grasses, native perennials, willow, and ginkgo tree plantings have been chosen for their aesthetic and ecological contribution to the waterfront environment. Willows are native to Willow Creek and the ginkgo was a favorite of Frank Lloyd Wright. Ginkgo trees already line the downtown plaza adjacent to the Historic Park Inn to the north of the riverwalk.
A west entrance on Washington Avenue will feature a series of vertical lights and plantings inviting visitors to contemplate the connection between the surrounding natural environment, music and architecture. An east side pathway under the Highway 65 bridge will open Interstate Park with subtle lighting creating a safer and unique environment and will feature a locally produced “River City” mural. Pavers will have an interpreted prairie motif.
A few facts about this project:
Name: River City Riverwalk
Purpose: Honoring our River City heritage by creating a highly visible and welcoming gateway to downtown Mason City.
Location: Downtown Mason City, on the banks of Willow Creek at the south end of the Southbridge Mall parking lot
Construction timeline: 12 months, completion in summer of 2025.
Design: Architect Kristy King, Bergland & Cram, WHKS, and Confluence
Contractor: Henkel Construction Co.
Project cost: $3.2 million. (Paid for with state grants and donations and local option sales tax)
Projected economic benefit: $13 million. Increased sales tax & tourism revenue, decreased medical cost, improved homebuyer and business attraction and crime reduction*
Waterfront Plaza sculpture: “Harmony In Light”
Sculpture Description: Features classic Prairie School patterns with a contemporary flair. The cylindrical sculpture draws inspiration from prairie style patterns utilizing durable laser cut stainless steel. Lighting and sunlight will splash engaging shadows on the surrounding area.
Artists: Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk of the HYBYCOZO Studios based in California.
Artwork Purpose: “To create welcoming and meaningful gathering places for the community,” according to the artists.
Local Artwork: Permanent & rotating Sculptures On Parade, “River City Mural.”
Finishing touch, new Prairie Rock Trails: Linking 20 miles, 400 acres, trails & parkland.
Landscaping: Prairie grasses, native perennials, willow and ginkgo trees.
The project is being paid for with state grants and donations, and is part of the city’s annual capital improvement budget.
The timeline calls for construction to begin in the spring with completion in the summer of 2025. The riverwalk is being designed by Bergland & Cram architects, WHKS, and Confluence.