by Jeanne Duffy

Belle Plaine Community Development Director

It’s so good to touch the green green grass of home. How I love Belle Plaine.  I love the drivers that greet you with the index finger wave above the steering wheel.  I love the greetings walking down the street.  I love tending to my tomatoes on the vine, one large and one small, my first ever.  And my flowers.  You can’t take the farmer out of an Iowa farm girl.

As we anxiously await the word from Des Moines on the two new grants so we can start the downtown renovation project, I am excited to see Belle Plaine return to its previous splendor.  I hear those who doubt it will happen but it will.  Bill Daily has worked beyond what I would think possible from one individual to make it happen.  Watching his dedication speaks volumes. He grew up here and he loves the town.

The Lincoln Café shall make it’s re-entrance in September.  Jimmy Lamoni and Kristy Tovar have worked hard to take this grand lady down to bare bones and make it a restaurant that will bring people from surrounding towns.   This means more shoppers for the downtown area.  No shortcuts are being taken on the Lincoln.   If you’ve been to King Towers in Toledo you know the type of food they serve and it’s just another statement of their “get ‘er done right.”

When I travel, people know Belle Plaine by the beautiful architecture downtown.  Look up as you walk through and imagine it restored to its original glory with windows replaced, bricks cleaned and current unuseable buildings restored.  Folks, it’s coming.

All the promises you heard will be kept after we jump through a few more hurdles, and hit the ground running.