WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
Le Mars is a messy place right now—and in many ways, it is a beautiful mess. Getting down Central Avenue or anywhere downtown takes extra patience these days. There is plenty of dirt, and some areas are difficult to navigate. For months, the stoplights near downtown have been replaced by sto
p signs at nearly every corner, leaving drivers to wait and wave one another through. It can be frustrating, but all that disruption points to something exciting: real progress is happening in our hometown.
I noticed the same thing this week when I went to the dentist and found the road near Walmart closed for construction. Drivers have to go around that area, too, and the view is mostly dirt being moved as crews prepare infrastructure for several n
ew housing units. The people there enjoyed watching the machinery through their windows and asked if I knew anything about the project. I shared what little I knew: beautiful new townhouses are being built, which means more doors will soon open for people who want to make Le Mars home at a variety of price points.
That interest is already showing up. A good friend of mine is selling her duplex, and she has had many showings. She told me that most of the people who have looked at it are from out of town, and I have heard similar stories from several others over the past year. That is good news for Le Mars. Our community is not only a wonderful place to live—it is becoming a destination. You know the saying, “If you build it, they will come”? I am grateful for the people in our community who are working hard to improve quality of life here for every age group.
One of the biggest signs of that progress is the new elementary school planned for the south end of town. After the bond passed, Le Mars began moving forward with a building that will bring all grade school students together under one roof. The school is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2028. For now, the construction adds to the mess, but the project is long overdue. Our current schools are too small and likely no longer meet the needs of our growing community. This is wonderful news for the young families who live here now and for those who may want to move here in the future.
Growth is also taking shape in other ways. Plans are coming together for a 55-plus development, also on the south end of town. It is a beautiful area, and the developer has a vision for inviting spaces designed for people who are ready to move out of the homes where they raised their children and into something smaller, perhaps with a quieter pace. As people age, it can be a real blessing to live in a community surrounded by others who are in a similar stage of life.
Our parks are part of this community development, too. As we have talked about before, several parks are being updated, including O’Toole Park and the golf course, which are both in progress now. They are expected to be completed in Fall of 2027, giving families and residents more refreshed outdoor spaces to enjoy.
Last but not least, I hope we continue to see more affordable housing options—and maybe someday, transitional efficiency apartments for people who are going through a difficult season and need a safe, stable place to land. All around town, the mess is temporary, but the progress is lasting. Le Mars is growing, changing, and becoming an even better place to call home.
P.S. Mike and I are also working on a new downtown project, while a beautiful mural is being painted nearby, close to the Ice Cream Parlor. Stay tuned for more details!
