The New "Horne Square" is a Beauty

(A message from Mayor Jody McLeod)

This is going to be an exciting spring for downtown Clayton.

People--including many potential customers--will likely be heading downtown in record numbers this year for the Farmers Market, the Town Square Concerts and, now, the beautiful new Horne Square.

And, that's not all. The upcoming Home & Garden show at the Clayton Center is sure to attract huge crowds, too, as will other events at the Center.

But, it's Horne Square that will be getting the most attention this spring--the place where a plain, dusty vacant lot has been transformed into a beautiful downtown centerpiece. I hope you'll join us out there April 26 at noon for the formal dedication ceremonies. It's an important time for our town.

After all these years, we have a wonderful place to rest and relax in the sunshine and fresh air while shopping; a place where folks can sit and chat while someone strums a guitar; a central place to meet during the day or the evening and a place that gives downtown more energy and life--a lot more.

A lot of people worked hard for a long time to make Horne Square a reality. With all the differing ideas and proposals for that valuable space in the middle of downtown, reaching a decision on what to do wasn't easy. Some weren't even sure we had picked the right course of action--that is, until they saw it.

It's virtually impossible to look at that awesome transformation and not be impressed. It's a gorgeous spot right in the heart of Clayton, and it's just going to get better looking as the year goes on and the trees and greenery spring to life.

The economic recovery has been slow everywhere. We're seeing a few good signs here, of course, including a business expansion and even some new businesses coming in. But the best sign is the forward-thinking public-private partnership that continues to work together to bring more and more people downtown for a better and better experience.