Downtown Square Renovation Completed in October 2024
After four years of work, Marion’s downtown revitalization project has wrapped up, marking a new era for the city’s historic core.
Originally scheduled to finish by Thanksgiving, the project wrapped up early in October, thanks to the efforts of local contractor Samron, who played a major role in competing the construction earlier than anticipated.
“The goal from day one has been to bring more people downtown,” said Marion’s Chief of Staff Cody Moake. “We realized we needed safer pathways, widened alleys and lighted alleys and more.”
The project began with the revitalization of the Tower Square circle and fountains, followed by a major water line update and the new brick laying work that has now been completed on each side of the square.
Lights have also been installed to light the previously dark alley ways connecting the side streets and parking lots to Tower Square Plaza.
This is important especially during the nighttime events such as Marion’ popular “Third Thursdays” or concerts and shows at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center when guest have to park off the square and walk up.
Moake says the overall main focus of the Tower Square renovations was to make it safer and more welcoming to pedestrians. While the work may have seemed like a long process full of growing pains, Moake said he feels like the wait was worth it.
“Four years is a long time and government moves slow. Sometimes you have to take some extra time to do things right,” Moake said.
Marion Mayor Mike Absher has been focused on revitalizing Marion’s downtown area ever since he first ran for office. Absher says he is hopeful that the new aesthetic look will attract people of all ages to downtown.
“When I am looking down on The Square (from his office at the new City Hall), I have been seeing a ton of people coming up here to take prom photos, homecoming pictures and family portraits. Before all of the new construction. The Square really wasn’t a place people would come to do that.” he said.
“Now it is ‘that’ place where people come to visit and take photos and hopefully patronize our local businesses while they are here.”
Although many businesses around the Square have been dealing with the construction for many years, Mayor Absher is encouraging local residents to patronize them even more now that the work is complete.
“Even if you don’t have any major reason to visit them right now, it is the time of the year where you can buy gift cards. Supporting the downtown businesses anyway you can is a big contribution to them, especially since all of the work is now complete,” he said.
As the Christmas season rolls around, more people are expected to visit Tower Square for holiday events, such as ice skating, carriage rides, the Very Merry Marion Christmas Parade and the Christmas Market scheduled for next month.
(Source for article: the Marion Star newspaper by Aaron Price, posted by Sam Lattuca 1/28/2025)