It was 1992 and a new riverboat casino was coming to town. At that time there was a live music club, a dinner theatre, an arts center, and an alternative radio station. It only made sense to create a new identity for Downtown Rock Island - one based on arts & entertainment.
The goal was to encourage people to come Downtown, to have fun, to visit the businesses, and to return for some more fun.
The first festival produced by The District was Ya Maka My Weekend, held in the summer of 1992 with only six weeks of planning.
Since then, vacant store fronts have been filled, long dormant upper floors have been transformed into loft apartments, and more than 60 new businesses have opened.
Now, a series of quality, innovative events with unique themes are held every year.
The District has propelled Downtown Rock Island from worst to first. Area residents say we have the most lively downtown. In 1990, Rock Island was perceived as having the worst downtown in the Quad Cities and in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2007 it was perceived as having the most active downtown according to surveys conducted.
From the get-go, income to fund The District has been highly weather related. At times rain, snow, and extreme heat have threatened its very existence but in the end dedication of The District team and its partners throughout the Quad Cities have prevailed.
The resiliency of The District, its ability to continue to grow through good times and bad, gives The District confidence to embrace the future and to continue taking risks. While much has been accomplished, much more remains to be done. Continuing the hard work of the past into the future will produce a thriving downtown.