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Marion was named a 2017 All-Star Community by the Iowa League of Cities for the Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts at Lowe Park. The city will be recognized at an Awards Banquet at the League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit, held in Davenport from September 27-29. The All-Star Community Award is the most prestigious honor given by the League to cities. Entries are judged by a panel of former city officials and others familiar with municipal government. Judges determine winners based on innovative efforts in areas such as urban renewal, development, preservation, collaborative efforts or quality of life improvements. Marion was among three of Iowa’s 945 cities to garner such recognition. The Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts was completed in 2014. The venue, managed by Marion’s Parks and Recreation Department, is as unique as it is intimate, featuring a 50-foot stage, intricate tile work and a canopy of six oak leaves sculpted from Corten steel. Improved programming efforts in 2016 have increased usage of this permanent outdoor venue and taken it from a best-kept secret to one of Marion’s crown jewels. “We pride ourselves on an unequaled quality of life,” said Marion Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly. “This amphitheater is another example of how our city has reached higher to create a venue that is unlike any other. I commend the Marion Chamber of Commerce, all the donors and community volunteers and our city government for giving our community this amazing gathering space and performance venue.” This year’s other All-Star Community Award winners are Center Point and Washington. The winners are featured in the August 2017 issue of Cityscape magazine.