DAL Believes in Preserving Albert Lea's History

Our history, heritage and future lie in the preservation and heart of our city -- our downtown.

• Historic places help us understand our heritage and where we should go in the future.
• Preservation creates better communities, injecting vitality and excitement in downtowns while providing alternatives to strip malls and urban sprawl.

Every local downtown revitalization program needs the support and expertise of both the public and private sectors.  For an effective partnership, each must recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the other.

DAL Works to Build Awareness and Support in our Community

Communities across the country have proven that downtown revitalization makes their city a better place to live, work and visit.  It takes an ongoing series of initiatives to build community support and create lasting progress.  Even small projects make a big difference.

DAL has had a large part in many important projects since its inception that have positively impacted our community.  Some of these include:

• Successful lobbying campaign gaining community support and passage of the local option sales tax for lake improvement.
• Moving the Farmer's Market to its current downtown location (NW corner of Fountain Street and Broadway Avenue).
• Organization of several family events in our downtown -- Family day at the Farmer's Market, Family Holiday Celebration, etc.
• Successful fund raising resulting in expansion of the downtown holiday lighting program.
• Restoration of the official holiday tree for the City of Albert Lea.
• Supported funding of the lake fountains.
• Implementation of the Historic Plaque Program.