ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The holiday spirit was alive in Rock Island on Wednesday night as the community gathered for a festive tree lighting and the grand reopening of the renovated Arts Alley.
The space received over $500,000 in updates, funded by a combination of the Illinois Tourism Attractions grant in the amount of $267,000, downtown tax increment financing district funds, and American Rescue Plan dollars. Originally created in 1994, Arts Alley now features vibrant murals from artists Nicole Salgar of Miami and Quad Cities native Atlanta Dawn. The refreshed look is all a part of the city's $8.7 million Rebuild Downtown project.
Residents got their first look at the upgrades and previewed plans for a Christmas market with rotating pop-up stores.
"I think it's going to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people," Mayor Mike Thoms said. "We’re going to rotate different companies through these pop-up shops. We've got casinos here, we’ve got the candle shop, but next weekend it’ll be two different shops. It's something new to bring to people downtown each week."
Jack Cullen of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance said there will be other activities available, too.
"We’ll have a variety of family-friendly activities—a petting zoo, visiting Santa, a tree farm, even a children’s train on one of the weekends," Cullen said.
For a full list of Arts Alley pop-up vendors and their schedules, visit here.