From Commercial to Main Street: Building a Brighter Future for Clark

At Choose Clark County, we believe strong communities are built by investing in the spaces where people live, work, and gather. That’s the spirit behind our Commercial to Main Street project — an exciting step forward in revitalizing Clark’s commercial zones and strengthening the heart of our community.

Why It Matters

Downtowns and commercial corridors are often the first impression visitors have of a community. In Clark, we see an opportunity to make that impression memorable — not by completely overhauling everything at once, but by making steady, thoughtful improvements that build pride, support local businesses, and strengthen the places where we connect.

Through this project, we’re working toward:

• Supporting Local Growth: Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the backbone of Clark’s economy. A vibrant, attractive commercial area helps them succeed.

• Building Community Pride: Every improvement reflects the pride we have in our community — and invites others to experience it too.

• Creating Lasting Impressions: We want people passing through to remember Clark — to tell friends about the "cute little town in northeast South Dakota" — and to come back to shop, dine, and explore.

  
  

What It Looks Like This Year

In 2025, the Commercial to Main Street project is already taking visible steps forward:

• New Benches: Thanks to partnerships with the Rotary Club, Lions Club, and the Community Foundation, new benches will be installed along Commercial Street to create more welcoming spaces for people to gather, pause, and enjoy.

• Potted Plants and Small Trees: Colorful potted plants and small trees are being added to the downtown landscape, made possible by the Community Foundation, the Clark Conservation District, Clark Rotary, and Choose Clark County. While the trees won’t provide shade, they will bring vibrant color and life to our commercial areas and something new for the community to see on Commercial.

• Future Tree Sales: The trees planted this spring will be available for community members to purchase this fall at the Community Forum tentatively scheduled for September 9th in Clark, Residents can buy these trees to plant at their homes or businesses — helping to extend the beauty of downtown throughout the wider community. Proceeds will help fund additional plantings next year, depending on how this year's trees perform.

  
  

The Forum will also be a time to come together, review what worked well this summer, discuss what we could improve, and plan our next steps — including updates on other projects like the pool initiative and the many activities and dreams taking shape across Clark.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, the Commercial to Main Street project isn’t about quick fixes or massive overhauls. It’s about thoughtful, community-driven improvements that create:

• Eye-Catching Commercial Areas: We want our entire commercial core — not just Main Street — to be a place people notice and remember, even from the sidewalk or their car window. A place that feels lively, beautiful, and worth coming back to.

• More Greenery and Visual Interest: Over time, we’ll keep enhancing our streetscapes with flowers, art, trees, and coordinated efforts that reflect the spirit of our town.

• A Stronger Foundation for Business Success: Every improvement we make helps create a thriving environment for local businesses to grow and for new ideas to take root.

  
  

A Work in Progress

We know it won’t happen overnight — and it doesn’t need to. Each new bench, each colorful planter, each tree planted by a neighbor is a step forward. Each season gives us a chance to learn, adjust, and keep building the Clark we believe in.

The future of our commercial zones — and our whole community — isn’t being written by big, sweeping changes. It’s being shaped by the steady, determined steps we take together.

Thank YOU for being part of it.