Historic Downtown Liberty Highlights
HDLI’s recent accomplishments have been recognized through awards, recognitions, and grants. These successes are a result of the hard work and dedication of our team, including volunteers, staff, and community partners.
Downtown Stories
MainStreet53 Intern Series
by Abbi Mota, Liberty High School Student
Presentations
Presentations
We offer presentations for clubs, organizations, and businesses. Our topics range from introducing ourselves as a Main Street program, discussing the Farmers’ Market, to exploring volunteering opportunities. If you’re interested in having us present to your group, please contact us today. We can’t wait to share our passion for downtown Liberty with you!
Recognition & Grants
Best of the Northland
RECOGNITION
Historic Downtown Liberty celebrated another outstanding year in the Best of the Northland – Kansas City awards, with 30 downtown businesses placing in the Top 3—including the Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers’ Market, which was voted #1 for the fourth consecutive year.
Liberty Arts Commission Grant Recipient
GRANTS
We have been awarded the Liberty Arts Commission grant for the fourth year in a row for our Utility Cabinet Wrap design contest. Each year, we host this contest in collaboration with Liberty High School students. We are grateful for the continued support of the Arts Commission in recognizing and promoting the artistic talents of our community.
Creative Space Activation Grant Recipient
GRANT
We are thrilled to share that Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. (HDLI) was the recipient of the prestigious $10,000 Creative Space Activation Grant in 2023. Presented by Missouri Main Street Connection, this grant recognizes the outstanding efforts of HDLI’s Design Team Mill Street Experiment Showcase project.
HDLI Awards
Missouri Main Street Connection Awards
AWARD
MainStreet53 High School Intern Storytelling Series
Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. is proud to announce it has received the 2026 Missouri Main Street Award for Transformational Promotion Activity for its MainStreet53 High School Intern Storytelling Series.
The award recognizes the innovative partnership between HDLI and Liberty Public Schools’ Network53 Real World Learning program. In 2025, student intern Abbi Mota led a journalism-focused initiative, interviewing downtown business owners, photographing events, and sharing authentic stories that promoted Historic Downtown Liberty and strengthened connections within the community.
The award celebrates creative promotion and the positive impact of youth engagement in downtown revitalization.
Missouri Main Street Connection Awards
AWARD
Best New Awareness Campaign: Historic Downtown Liberty Branding
Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. was honored with the 2025 Missouri Main Street Award for Best New Awareness Campaign for its comprehensive downtown branding initiative.
The award recognized HDLI’s collaborative effort to refresh the identity of Historic Downtown Liberty through a new logo, redesigned website, updated marketing materials, event artwork, banners, rack cards, magazine advertising, and the launch of the Open Flag program. Together, these efforts created a consistent, recognizable brand that better promotes downtown businesses, events, and the community.
The campaign strengthened awareness of Historic Downtown Liberty, enhanced the visitor experience, and established a cohesive identity that reflects the energy, history, and character of downtown Liberty.
Best New Awareness Campaign Award
AWARD
BEST NEW AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AWARDED TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LIBERTY, INC. FOR FARMERS’ MARKET LIBERTY COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTION TEAM WELLNESS WEEKEND
Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) presented the Best New Awareness Campaign award to Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. (HDLI) along with the Liberty Community Health Action Team (LCHAT) for their Farmers’ Market LCHAT Wellness Weekends during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Bauer. They were one of 14 communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization recognized on Thursday night.
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The Farmers’ Market LCHAT Wellness Weekends program was a profound new awareness campaign that collaboratively showcased and empowered healthy behaviors and HDLI’s Farmers’ Market. The programming was hosted on the first Saturday of each month offering family activities, healthy recipes, and special events throughout 2023. The special events included special pop-up health opportunities in the Lil’ Sprout Area including yoga classes, water table presentation, medical exams such as A1C tests and blood pressure checks, herb planting, crafts, and other kids’ activities.
HDLI executed this programming and its activities with the help of countless community partners. In addition, HDLI provided $5 LCHAT tokens to the first 100 shoppers who stopped by the Farmers’ Market tent to expose new people to their Farmers’ Market, which made purchasing fresh and local food easier and more affordable. Danelle O’Connell, Executive Director of HDLI, shared the profound success of their event that had, “505 individuals redeem the LCHAT tokens. Our staff heard from vendors that on non-Wellness Weekend days, visitors frequently sought out the LCHAT tent. On Wellness Weekend Days the vendors usually reported having their busiest overall sales day.
The Farmers’ Market LCHAT Wellness Weekends received the Best New Awareness Campaign award for its economic and social impact through powerful partnerships. The event benefited both the organization and community through its promotion of healthy behaviors.
Small Scale Placemaking Activity Award
AWARD
SMALL SCALE PLACEMAKING ACTIVITY, ACCREDITED/ASSOCIATE TIER AWARDED TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LIBERTY FOR THEIR UTILITY BOX ART PROJECT
Missouri Main Street Connection Inc. (MMSC) presented the Small Scale Placemaking Activity, Accredited/Associate Tier award to Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. (HDLI) for their Utility Box Art project during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Dinner at The Bauer. They were one of 14 communities, individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the state that have completed exemplary work in downtown revitalization, recognized on Thursday night.
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In 2023, HDLI received a mini art grant from the City of Liberty’s Arts Commission to transform utility boxes. The funds would cover the cost for the vinyl wrap and installation that would add downtown flair for a minimum of five years.
HDLI held a contest with its two Liberty High Schools to gather the art that would be used for the utility boxes. Submissions were submitted from both schools, including submissions from graphic design students. The top four choices were shared with the community for a final vote. The winning designs for the utility boxes included:
- Katy S., a sophomore at Liberty High School, design located on Main Street.
- Ihor M., a sophomore at Liberty North High School, design located on Water Street.
Residents, business owners, and tourists have welcomed the utility boxes following the installation of the student’s art, with HDLI Executive Director Danelle O’Connell sharing, “We have already seen the utility boxes being photographed by the local newspaper and utilized for selfie stations, especially the artist and their family, friends, and classmates.”
The Utility Box Art project was awarded the Small Scale Placemaking Activity, Accredited/Associate Tier award for its creative way of combining civic pride and beautifying Downtown Liberty’s streetscape.
Missouri Main Street Connection Awards
AWARD
Most Innovative Project for Repurposing Vacant Space
Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. and Corbin Mill Properties were recognized by the Missouri Main Street Connection in 2022 for revitalization excellence.
Originally built in 1889 as a flour mill, the Corbin Mill evolved over time before sitting vacant in 2017. In 2020, Corbin Mill Properties purchased the building and transformed it into a mixed-use space with retail, office, and event areas.
Despite pandemic challenges, the project successfully brought the historic building back to life, welcoming six new businesses and over 30 employees by 2021.
Best New Education Campaign Awarded to Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc.
AWARD
Missouri Main Street Connection recognized Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. (HDLI) in 2022 for excellence in downtown revitalization.
In 2021, HDLI launched a multi-weekend trolley tour highlighting historic landmarks featured in Glimpses of Our Past. Held over three Saturdays in October, the tours guided small groups through 19 sites, with local historians, owners, and volunteers sharing stories along the way.
The 90-minute tours offered a unique, engaging way to experience Liberty’s rich history.
Video Media
KCTV5’s Destination Heartland: Liberty, Missouri – Take a virtual trip to Liberty, Missouri.
KC Wide Open Block Party 2025 in Historic Downtown Liberty, MO. – Viral Video Marketing
Merry Christmas from Historic Downtown Liberty! – 2024 Holiday Season in Downtown Liberty, MO.
In 2024, Britt Demoro and Melissa Rousselo promoted downtown Liberty on The American Dream featuring Blush Farms Cork + Board. (starting at 14.3)
