Missouri's Main Street Connection organization recognized downtown Maryville at its annual conference.
Downtown Maryville's pocket park received the best design or visual impact legacy award. The pocket park, which was completed in 2021, was created in the space left behind by a fire at Main and Third.
Downtown Maryville also received three statewide nominations. Two related to economic development were the city's facade improvement program and The Pub concert series. And Rod Couts was nominated for the statewide Spirit of Main Street award.
News release from the Downtown Maryville organization:
Downtown Maryville is proud to announce that the Downtown Pocket Park has received the Best Design or Visual Impact Legacy Award from Missouri Main Street Connection. The award was presented during the Evening of Excellence Legacy Awards Ceremony and Dinner at Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference on July 31 in Springfield.
The Downtown Pocket Park was recognized for transforming the corner of Main and Third streets into a welcoming community space that celebrates Maryville’s history while creating a vibrant gathering place in the heart of downtown.
“This award is especially meaningful because the Pocket Park represents what can happen when a community sees possibility in a challenging situation,” said DeAnn Davison, Downtown Maryville Executive Director. “What was once an empty space following a devastating fire has become a place where people can gather, connect and experience pieces of Maryville’s history. It’s a project that truly reflects the spirit of our downtown.”
Following a devastating fire that destroyed the building at the corner of Main and Third streets, the resulting vacant lot left a noticeable gap in the fabric of the downtown block. In the years that followed, the Maryville community came together to reimagine what the space could become.
The vision that emerged was the Downtown Pocket Park — a place designed for gathering, reflection and connection while incorporating meaningful elements from Maryville’s past and present. Completed in 2021 and featuring a 1911 National Humane Alliance Fountain and replica schoolhouse, the Downtown Pocket Park represents nearly a decade of vision, collaboration and investment in downtown placemaking. Today, it serves as a central hub
for community activity, providing residents and visitors with a place to gather, connect and experience Maryville’s history.
The Evening of Excellence Awards celebrate communities and individuals who exemplify Missouri Main Street Connection’s mission of using preservation-based economic development to strengthen local economies and enhance quality of life. The Best Design or Visual Impact Legacy Award was one of several honors for which Downtown Maryville and its community partners were recognized at this year’s Missouri Main Street Connection conference.
Downtown Maryville received two additional Legacy Award nominations:
•Spirit of Main Street: Rod Couts
•Outstanding Economic Impact Project: City of Maryville Façade Improvement Program
Downtown Maryville also received an Annual Award nomination:
•Outstanding Economic Impact Project: The Pub Concert Series
“To have the Pocket Park honored and three additional Downtown Maryville projects and partners recognized through nominations says a lot about the momentum happening in our downtown,” Davison said. “These recognitions represent years of collaboration among our businesses, property owners, volunteers, community partners and the City of Maryville. We’re incredibly proud to see that collective work recognized at the state level.”
