One of the proposed changes to Uptown Marion in the city's Uptown streetscape plan has drawn considerable controversy of late: a suggestion to remove the Depot pavilion in City Square Park, taking down some of the park's trees so that the park is more open.

The streetscape plan, some suggestions of which were covered in last week's Times, is aimed at improving access to the Uptown, while enhancing the aesthetics of the area. Suggestions include revamping parking and reopening 7th Avenue's long-closed intersection with 11th St.

That intersection was still open in the late 1980s, when the Depot still stood across 11th St. from City Square Park, at the corner of 6th Ave. and 11th St. Long vacated by the railroad, the Depot was one of a number of buildings that were in disrepair on a block now dominated by a strip mall.

Community member George Lowe and others proposed redeveloping the block, according to former Mayor Vic Klopfenstein. Klopfenstein served as a city council member throughout the 1980s, before being elected mayor in 1988.

"It seemed like a great thing for Marion at the time," he said of the economic benefits that additional business in the Uptown area would provide.

As plans for the redevelopment progressed, community member Paul Draper led the Depot Pride Committee in a bid to build a park pavilion out of the former Depot in City Square Park across the street. The committee raised over $20,000, which was ultimately matched by the city.

The Depot roof was detached and set aside as bricks were taken from the structure to use for the pavilion. Draper, in a letter to the Times that can be found on page 2A, recalled that each brick was cleaned by hand, a process taking five minutes per brick. Community volunteers did the work.

"The community really did support it," said Klopfenstein.

The Depot pavilion was completed in time for Marion's sesquicentennial in 1989.

In the intervening two decades, Klopfenstein, who is a member of the Streetscape committee, said he supports keeping the Depot where it is, but feels that some clean-up and improvements could assuage some of the concerns of those who favor its removal.

"It's a central part of our community," he said.