Our Projects
Mid Mod Alley Spirograph Competition
Create artwork to enhance your community! The Main Street Design Committee invites you to submit an original drawing or painting to enliven the “Mid Mod Alley” between Uncle Nancy’s and Aleya Salon Suites & Day Spa. Find more details here:
These colors are what we consider the mid mod color palette.
The artwork should incorporate a Spirograph-inspired design as a portion of the work. Freehand drawing is encouraged. The artwork will help make “Mid Mod Alley” a more colorful and attractive space for residents to walk through and sit in. Artwork that is selected will be photographically enlarged onto durable materials that will be displayed in the alleyway.
Harmony Park
Newton Main Street is proposing Harmony Park as a bridge between the historic downtown and Legacy Plaza.
Harmony Park will provide a chorus of activity for all ages with
Interactive play with dancing waters & musical sculptures,
Green space, seating, tables, and shade for gathering, eating, and relaxing,
Small event-ready space for farmers’ markets, food trucks, music, and more,
Visitor information and public restrooms.
Transforming a vacant lot into Harmony Park will bridge the gap between downtown and Legacy Plaza, both rich in history; offer residents more free, fun activities with our community; attract visitors to downtown Newton; attract economic development; and increase community interaction and pride.
District Building Facades
Eligible projects include: sign or sign removal (up to $750), non-historic façade removal ($2,000), façade rehabilitation ($5,000), painting or paint removal ($1,500), awning or awning removal ($2,500) and architectural fees (7.5% of total project costs, up to $3,750). Building owners are eligible for multiple awards, for example, one for painting and one for signage. The grant requires a 1:1 match from building owners. A Design Review Board appointed by the mayor will review applications, with final approval by City Council. Projects must be historically appropriate and meet the design guidelines. Applicants are encouraged to contact Newton Main Street early in the planning stages and to set up a consultation with Main Street Iowa design specialists (this is a free service) before submitting the application.
Districtwide Beautification
This often involves planting trees, shrubbery, and other greenery. It may involve decorative or historic main street development. Curr
Interactive Murals
An interactive mural is a mural that you complete or a photo opt mural. Think about the playful wings for a simple example. Several have been added in the Newton Main Street District and we continue to plan for more.
Mid-Century Modern Artwork
In 2014 Newton’s downtown historic district was named to the National Register of Historic Places as an example of the mid-20th century (Mid-Century Modern”) aesthetic that was popular from 1933-1965. Between 1949 and 1965 many facades of our older buildings were modernized, and at least eleven new buildings were constructed. Most of these new buildings consisted of a single story using modern building materials. Newton’s downtown is the first in Iowa to be listed on the National Register as an example of mid-20th century aesthetics. To celebrate this achievement, in 2017 Newton Main Street invited local artists to create paintings depicting an aspect of Newton they enjoyed. Their drawings featured colors that were popular in the mid-20th century: orange, yellow, avocado green, gold, turquoise, and brown. Eight designs were chosen to reproduce and displayed in public.
