ST. GEORGE — There's a new gathering place in downtown St. George, specifically designed to attract residents and businesses to the heart of the city's historic center.

"Anytime you have a vibrant, functioning downtown, where people are there, busy and enjoying themselves, it's a big draw for business," said St. George Mayor Dan McArthur. "It's been exciting to have this come together and watch it grow."

The St. George Town Square Historic District at Tabernacle and Main Street includes a 45-foot-tall, walk-through tower that features four 8-foot, rounded stained-glass windows depicting the area's rich history. Titled "Portholes of the Past," the commissioned artwork was created by Tom Holdman, whose work also hangs in the Orem and American Fork libraries and in numerous temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Other features of the nearly $6 million project highlight the location's historical setting with traditional outdoor festival and parade grounds, a splash pad and winding river, interactive water exhibits, an outdoor amphitheater open to community events and a flag memorial.

Among the buildings that anchor the site are the LDS Tabernacle, the new county library, art center and administrative offices for the Washington County School District. Each county building reflects the historical significance of its location through the use of red sandstone bricks and traditional architecture.

Plans are also under way to construct a new 5th District Courthouse on the southwest end of the Town Square, pulling even more employees to the pioneer district.

"It's really important to us to keep the center of government downtown," said McArthur, a four-term mayor who was born and raised in St. George. "We wanted to make a statement with the Town Square, and I wanted to protect the old parade grounds."

The pioneers' early dependence on irrigation canals and waterways is also recreated in the city's new Water Walk, which begins at the northern end of Main Street with an old watering hole that once supplied spring water to the downtown area.

Bronze statues depicting historical moments are strategically placed along the Water Walk and in the Town Square. A system of irrigation ditches conveys water along Main Street to St. George Boulevard, where it is captured to feed several water features downtown.

"The sky is the limit on this thing, there are so many possibilities," the mayor said. "We wanted this to be an inviting area for people to come with their families and to spend money downtown. We wanted the Water Walk to be a hands-on exhibit, where kids could touch the bronze statues and learn more about our history."

Musical events, a book festival, art displays and a Halloween pumpkin carving and lighting contest are all booked at the St. George Town Square this month. For more information and a listing of events, visit the city's Web site at sgcity.org/townsquare.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com