Downtown Improvements and Revitalization

If you were in Centerville's downtown at all this summer you probably noticed the start of some eye-appealing improvements. A group passionate about downtown started having conversations about what might be possible in our downtown all the way back in the beginning of 2018 at the Empower Centerville Gathering. This group became a subcommittee of the Centerville Development Corporation and started to go to work.

Seeing the vision for this downtown movement and wanting to contribute, the Development Corporation ultimately decided to commit $30,000 to the project. The first phase got started right before the 4th of July this year and included the brick around the center flower pot at the 4-way stop, the addition of the old fashion street lamps, the new downtown banners, the hanging flower baskets and the new flower pot covers in front of several of the businesses.

And, just last week the group learned that the Development Corporation was successful in the grant application they had written to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for additional dollars towards our Downtown Improvements Project. Members of the Development Corporation were on hand last Thursday to receive a check for an additional $10,000 for Centerville's downtown improvements project.

Some of the other visions for the downtown and next phases will include additional sitting areas and landscaping, decorative fencing, a few trees being planted in the downtown, historic photos being hung along buildings, and bringing back the old fashion drinking water fountain at the 4-way stop.

These additions to Centerville's downtown may seem like small minor improvements. But the group really feels these items will go a long way to bringing some color, vibrancy and life into the downtown, which collectively could have a big impact for Centerville. If nothing else its about creating a sense of pride in place. If we can help create a more appealing environment where people want to start a business and where others want to shop, visit or even just hang out, then the group will have been successful in doing what they set out to do for Centerville and it's downtown.