The Main Street Cultural District was established Jan. 1, 2004. A program created for the beautification, integration and promotion of downtown Main Street to welcome new businesses, residents, and organizations.

After becoming an official, State of Iowa Certified Cultural and Entertainment District in November 2005, the Cultural District took on new projects to turn Main Street into a “destination district” as stated on the Cultural District’s website.

The most recent venture, the East End Gateway Project, began a year and a half ago, consisting of three phases ultimately ending with an iconic archway to the Cultural District.

Bill Malone, president of the Main Street Cultural District, said: “The original idea came from the Ames Foundation as they proposed a Downtown beautification. The Main Street Cultural District has taken over the project and will hopefully carry it to completion.”

In 2011, an evergreen was planted to begin the first phase of making the area between Duff Avenue and the Municipal Utility power plant “green.”

By designing new plots to place and plant on Main Street, the downtown area will become lively. In front of the evergreen a low brick wall will be placed with plants resting on top.

The second stage is the building of the archway above the 100 Block of Main Street. The design of the archway began with several local designers submitting around eleven ideas.

“We went and asked the stakeholders and the public to submit feedback on the arch and pick a design,” Malone said. “We narrowed it down to three arch designs, and then we went back, asked those three designers to redo their ideas to make them better. The final arch was picked. Country Landscapes ultimately created the design for this.”

The third phase will be placing sculptures in an area that Malone described as currently having “scrabbly trees.” The Cultural District is working with the Public Arch Commission, a government commission, on the designs.

How many sculptures to be placed are unknown as of yet, but they will be placed in the middle of a grass island, again replacing older trees.

The Cultural District hosts fundraisers for the project such as the Oktoberfest Celebration. Funds come in through individual donors, and bricks to be placed at the base of the arch can be bought. The bricks will include the names of the donors.

Other Cultural Distrcit projects can also donate toward the Gateway.

“The Downtown Sit-Down has to do with the benches getting painted. The Main Street Cultural District is basically getting sponsorships for painting those benches, and those funds go to downtown beautification and could be used on this project as well,” Malone said.

The first phase cost about $6,000 to complete. The second phase of building the arch has about $20,000 committed and was quoted by Harold Pike to cost $92,000. The final phase is estimated to require around $60,000. Malone said the Cultural District has applied for grants, in addition to the fundraisers.

“Harold Pike Construction will be the builder of the Arch. He is a long time Ames resident and done amazing work all over the state. On ISU campus, he has done the Student Health Center, Morrill Hall’s renovation, and work at the Knoll to name a very few,” Malone said.

As the Cultural District continues, the next step is to see if the chosen area for the arch can actually support an arch.

A water main in the area can potentially restrict the second phase, but Malone explained if engineers determine the location is all right for building, the Cultural District can work out minor design details and start fundraising. Malone hopes for the arch to be finished in two to three years.

Terry Stark, current committee member of the Main Street Cultural District said: “I think it’s going to be something that people will be talking about in other communities. It will have a pretty big impact on businesses and restaurants. We really are excited for what’s going to happen. I really think it will be a benefit for all of Ames.”