Creativity, connection, and a deep sense of place come together in the work of Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, a nonprofit organization serving the Boone Forks region and the communities connected by the Boone River.

Founded on the belief that learning happens best through shared experience, Legacy Learning Boone River Valley creates opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to gather, learn, make, and connect. Its programs are rooted in arts education, creative placemaking, and informal community learning — often taking place outside traditional classrooms and within everyday spaces where people naturally come together.

From hands-on workshops and artist-led demonstrations to public art and community-centered projects, the organization emphasizes access, inclusion, and belonging. The Boone River and surrounding landscapes are not simply scenic features of the region, but active influences on how people understand place, history, and community.

That mission is now being advanced through the recent award of an Arts & Culture Grant supporting “Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends.”

A street with history, a space for community

“Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends” takes its name from Seneca Street, the historic street where the Legacy Learning art studio is located. For generations, Seneca Street has been a place of movement, work, and exchange. Today, it is also becoming a place to pause — to sit, talk, play, and connect.

The project is inspired by the concept of a “third space” — a place that is neither home nor work, but where people naturally gather. In smaller communities especially, these informal spaces play an important role in building relationships and strengthening a sense of belonging.

Rather than creating something entirely new, Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends intentionally builds on creative investments already present along the street.

Building on a proven creative investment

One of the most visible examples of this success is the colorful public art bench located in front of the Legacy Learning art studio, created through a previous Arts & Culture Grant.

Local sculptor Tim Adams designed and fabricated the bench using a repurposed propane tank, transforming an industrial object into a functional and welcoming piece of public art. The bench’s vibrant painted surface was developed through a collaborative process led by visual artist Patrick O’Loughlin, who worked alongside participants from Friends Forever, a local social program serving persons with disabilities. That same collaboration also resulted in hand-painted street games, including checkers, tic-tac-toe, and cornhole boards. These interactive elements invite people of all ages and abilities to play together in public space– encouraging conversation, participation, and shared experience.

The bench and games have become informal gathering points on Seneca Street, demonstrating how thoughtful design and collaboration can transform an ordinary streetscape into a welcoming community place.

Expanding the invitation

The new Arts & Culture Grant will support planning, design, and community engagement activities that expand these ideas further. Through additional seating, creative elements, and opportunities for public participation, Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends will continue to shape Seneca Street as a flexible and inclusive “third space.”

Community input will play a central role as the project moves forward, ensuring the space reflects local voices and evolves organically over time.

“Sometimes community doesn’t need a big event — it just needs a place to sit, play, and be present together,” said a representative of Legacy Learning Boone River Valley.

Supported by statewide arts & culture investment

Funding for “Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends” is provided by the Iowa Department of Economic Development through the Arts & Culture Grant Program, which supports creative placemaking projects that strengthen community identity, accessibility, and vitality across Iowa.

A continuing commitment to place-based learning

Legacy Learning Boone River Valley continues to develop programs that reflect the character, history, and natural beauty of the Boone Forks region. By grounding learning in local places — from river corridors to historic streets — the organization encourages deeper connections between people and the landscapes they share.

As “Sitting on Seneca: Finding Friends” moves forward, the project stands as both a continuation of past success and an invitation to imagine what shared spaces can become when creativity, inclusion, and community guide the way.

For more information, visit LegacyLearningBRV.org, and follow Legacy Learning Boone River Valley on Facebook and Instagram.