Siouxland Magazine - Volume 2 Issue 4 - version 2

Share the Beauty
By Grace Nordquist
I’m sure you’ve heard the
saying, “Beauty is in the eye
of the beholder.” While this
saying is true in many ways, I never
really thought about it in reference
to a city.
After recently graduating from
Morningside College and calling
Sioux City home for the past two
years, I decided to continue calling
it home for the foreseeable future after accepting the
Development Coordinator position at Downtown Partners.
Just a few months ago, I was sitting in my living room, just a
block away from campus, applying for jobs online in places
like Des Moines, Omaha, and Sioux Falls, but something
kept pulling me back to Sioux City. I wasn’t quite ready to
leave just yet.
Growing up in a small town with a population of just
over 1,000 people and a county that did not even have
a stoplight, Sioux City felt large to me. While it is bigger
than I was used to, it still has a small community feel that I
appreciate. To me, it is the best of both worlds.
I’m sure this won’t come as a surprise, but many college
seniors, and other young members of the community, often
don’t want to stay in Sioux City. I hear things like “There’s
nothing to do here.” or “Iowa is so boring.” But once again,
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I’ve always been someone who likes to explore cities;
trying new restaurants, visiting museums, admiring murals,
enjoying the beauty of outdoor spaces (often capturing
the moments on my phone and posting them to social
media of course), and more. Since starting my new job at
Downtown Partners in May, I realized I have only touched
the surface of exploring Sioux City and the beauty it has to
offer.
While it may be boring to remain in your own corner of
the city or the confines of your humble abode, I encourage
everyone, not just young Siouxlanders, to explore Sioux
City. You may stumble across a downtown restaurant
you’ve never tried, or notice a mural that hasn’t caught your
eye before, or simply enjoy the riverfront view, a downtown
park, or even admire the new festoon lights along the
corners of 4th Street.
When you do decide to venture out, snap a photo and
share the beauty of Sioux City with the #downtownsiouxcity
or tag Downtown Partners social media pages in your post.
We would love to see how you find Sioux City beautiful.
Downtown Partners is a non-profit organization that
works with stakeholders to create a vibrant, expanding
downtown. To learn more about Downtown Partners and
to stay up to date with downtown projects and events,
visit www.downtownsiouxcity.com.
Photo credit Natalia O’Hara Photography.
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