Orange City’s charm isn’t happening by accident, but city leaders say the next step is making sure people don’t just pass through, but stop, explore, and stay.
From Dutch-style storefronts to tulip-lined streets and a walkable downtown, Orange City has built a recognizable identity over time. Now, leaders are working to strengthen that experience even further.
City Administrator Matt Van Schouwen says that effort is especially focused on the downtown area.
That idea is driving the work of Orange City’s Downtown Visioning Task Force, a group of city leaders, business owners, and community members working to shape the future of downtown.
The group is focusing on ways to make downtown more of a destination through coordinated business efforts, improved visibility, potential infrastructure updates, and more events and programming designed to draw people in and keep them there.
That work builds on what many already associate with Orange City.
From Dutch-inspired architecture lining downtown storefronts to the extensive tulip plantings that transform the city each spring, Van Schouwen says the community’s identity has been carefully maintained over time.
But even with those strengths, city leaders say there’s still an opportunity to improve how people experience the community.
Van Schouwen says some visitors, especially those traveling along Highway 10, may not immediately realize what downtown has to offer just a few blocks away.
That’s where the city’s current focus comes in: creating better connections between Orange City’s main routes and its downtown, while encouraging people to spend more time exploring the area.
Ultimately, city leaders say the goal is to build on what already makes Orange City unique while ensuring it remains not just a place people drive through, but a place they choose to visit and experience.
