Mason City Receives Statewide Recognition for River City Riverwalk; Former Mayor Bill Schickel Honored with Leadership Award

There was plenty to celebrate for Mason City at the 2026 Main Street Iowa Development Awards held Thursday, May 8th, in West Des Moines.

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration, communities from across the state gathered to recognize projects, partnerships, and people helping shape vibrant downtown districts throughout Iowa. We’re incredibly proud to share that Mason City received statewide recognition in two meaningful ways.

River City Riverwalk Receives Statewide Placemaking Award

Mason City received the 2026 Main Street Placemaking Project Award for Comprehensive Placemaking Effort for the transformative River City Riverwalk project.

This award recognizes large-scale projects that strengthen a community’s sense of place while creating meaningful impact within Main Street districts — and the Riverwalk has certainly done just that.

What was once an underutilized corridor has become one of Mason City’s signature public spaces and a welcoming gateway into downtown. The River City Riverwalk has helped create new opportunities for recreation, tourism, community gatherings, and economic growth while connecting people more intentionally to our downtown district.

From public art and gathering spaces to native landscaping, enhanced connectivity, and Prairie School-inspired design elements, the Riverwalk reflects the creativity, collaboration, and long-term vision that continues to shape Mason City’s future.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from Main Street Iowa,” said Lindsey James on behalf of Main Street Mason City. “The River City Riverwalk represents the power of collaboration, vision, and long-term investment in creating places where people want to gather, explore, and connect. This project has helped strengthen Mason City’s identity while creating new opportunities for tourism, recreation, and economic vitality in our downtown district.”

Bill Schickel Recognized for Leadership and Service

In addition to the Riverwalk recognition, retired Bill Schickel received a Main Street Iowa Leadership Award recognizing his inspirational leadership, volunteerism, and continued contributions to downtown revitalization efforts in Mason City.

Throughout his years of service, Schickel played a key role in supporting projects and partnerships that helped move downtown Mason City forward while preserving the character and identity that make our community special.

“Bill Schickel’s leadership and belief in downtown Mason City helped lay the groundwork for many of the transformational projects and partnerships our community enjoys today,” said James. “His passion for preserving Mason City’s character while embracing thoughtful growth has had a lasting impact on our community.”

Celebrating 40 Years of Main Street Iowa

This year’s awards also marked a major milestone for Main Street Iowa as the statewide program celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Since being established in 1985, Main Street Iowa has helped communities across the state revitalize downtown districts through historic preservation, economic development, placemaking, and community engagement efforts. Over the past four decades, the program has generated more than $3.1 billion in private investment, nearly 4.1 million volunteer hours, more than 5,600 new businesses, and more than 17,300 jobs statewide.

A total of 18 projects from across Iowa received Main Street Iowa Development Awards this year, while 45 individuals were recognized with leadership awards for their contributions to local Main Street programs.

MSMC is honored to see Mason City recognized among so many incredible communities working to create vibrant places where people want to live, work, visit, and gather. >>CLICK HERE to learn more about Main Street Mason City, upcoming events, and downtown initiatives