The year 2021 in the City of Pella was highlighted by major commercial and residential developments throughout the community, according to Pella Mayor Don DeWaard.

DeWaard says the council spent much of their time every other Tuesday setting the stage and working to approve projects such as the new Smash Park and new Pella Market as the community remains in one of the busiest times ever in its history in terms of potential community growth.

“We spent a lot of time on economic development, and I think if you get in your car and drive around Pella, you can see the fruits of a lot of that labor,” he says. “We have a tremendous amount of things being built right now, from housing to the new campus at Lely to the Smash Park to the new market, all of those projects are all being kicked off and we do have a lot going on here.”

DeWaard says several planning meetings and public sessions have been held so far in regards to the future of the Pella Community Center and for a potential new Indoor Recreation Facility — with more input opportunities coming in early 2022, and he anticipates major decisions to be made soon in regards to the future of recreation and arts needs in the community.

Hear more about the Year in Review and what’s ahead for the City of Pella in a two part interview on today and tomorrow’s Let’s Talk Pella.