Dedication of Belton Standpipe Postponed
A dedication ceremony to commemorate as a Local Landmark the Belton Standpipe, 301 W. Avenue I, has been postponed due to inclement weather. The dedication was set for 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30. A new date for the dedication will be announced soon.
The Belton City Council has recognized the Standpipe as a significant part of the City’s history by awarding it the inaugural Local Landmark designation.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Standpipe represents the ingenuity and forward thinking of Beltonians. The tower was built in 1914 during a period of rapid growth when city leaders were working to modernize utility services. Concrete standpipes were once fairly common, but steel water towers later replaced most of them, including in Belton on the same site. The steel tower was demolished in May 2015. The Standpipe is a rare surviving example of its type.
“We’re fortunate to have such a rich history and culture here in Belton,” City Manager Sam Listi said. “The Local Landmark designation helps bring attention to community treasures, like the Standpipe, and reminds us of the importance of preserving the past as we plan for the future.”
Plans are under way to restore the Standpipe site and add park amenities at the location. The City Council has identified renovations at the Standpipe as a priority in its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. Development plans for the park are anticipated in 2021, with construction of a park tentatively scheduled for 2022.
The City plans to seek grant funding opportunities to support preservation efforts for the Standpipe. The preservation would be accomplished in two phases. The first phase includes removing loose plaster and ventilating the tower. The second phase would re-plaster, paint and add a corrosion inhibitor to complete the renovation of the tower.
"Several state and federal grants are available for preservation and park development,” Listi said. “We believe this project will be competitive for grant funding.”
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