Green enough? Corridor cities add touch of nature

As today's Earth Day celebration draws attention to “greening” efforts, some people wonder if the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor is lagging behind Des Moines, Dubuque and other places in prioritizing beautification and the environment.

City leaders say planning is under way to add trees, trails and plantings, but experts say more is needed.

“I think we need to come out strong on greening the Corridor,” said Shannon Ramsay, founder and CEO of Marion-based Trees Forever. “That means trees, rain gardens, developments that prevent runoff.”

Ramsay said the Corridor Conservation Coalition, a group of organizations and agencies that promote sound land practices, will attend future Cedar Rapids City Council meetings to keep environmental considerations at the forefront.

She noted that public input sessions the past 10 years repeatedly pointed to the importance of tree-lined streets and green space.

“So let's make this a priority,” said Ramsay, one of 25 experts chosen to serve on a national Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests task force, which is drafting recommendations for the U.S. Forest Service. “We want the mayor and the council to understand that going green is good for our economy and can attract major corporations, just as Dubuque did with IBM.”

Cedar Rapids City Council member Monica Vernon has been advocating for trees planted between streets and sidewalks, the use of permeable pavement and allowing other kinds of green development.

Members of Green Iowa AmeriCorps are partnering with Trees Forever and others to plant street trees at 226 sites in the Wellington Heights neighborhood.

The Downtown District last year purchased the flood-damaged Siegel jewelry building at First Street and Third Avenue SE to use as a bioswale demonstration project for flood plain water management.

In May, native flowers and grasses will be planted on the property, which will be used for parking with permeable pavement.

Rich Patterson, director of the Indian Creek Nature Center, who consulted on the project, said he favors such ideas, but noted that the Nature Center has served as an example for years.

“The problem with these is that no one seems to want to imitate it,” he said of low-flow toilets, permeable paving and other projects.

Cost can be greater upfront, but savings come elsewhere. For example, Patterson said the need for stormwater sewers disappears when permeable paving and bioswales that capture rainwater are used in properly designed developments.

Until the City Council changes requirements, such as mandating no runoff in new developments, progress will continue to be slow, he said.

Iowa City entryways

In Iowa City, efforts have been made to beautify entryways into the city and arterial streets to help establish the city's character, said Jeff Davidson, director of planning and community development.

“That's where all the traffic is,” he said. “That's what people see.”

For example, the city made a point to keep a clear view of City Park, the Iowa River and the University of Iowa campus on Dubuque Street, coming into town from Interstate 80, Davidson said.

In the commercial area along Highway 1 on the south side of town, Iowa City has used its zoning code to require better-looking setbacks, lighting and greenery. At the city's insistence, the Walmart under construction off Highway 1 is being built with a higher level of aesthetics than the company's typical building, Davidson said.

“It's not the kind of things that everybody notices like a big, formal, planted flower garden,” he said. “It's more subtle.”

The non-profit Project GREEN has offered manpower and funding since 1968 to beautify public property. The “GREEN” stands for Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now.

Some of its major projects include providing $200,000 for plantings and maintenance in College Green Park several years ago and helping with landscaping in front of the courthouse.

Dubuque Street landscaping was mostly wiped out by the 2008 flood, but Project GREEN co-president Cindy Parsons expects much of it to be redone as the city reconstructs the street.

Parsons said such work, particularly at the main entryways into the city, sets the tone for the community and offers a positive first impression for newcomers.

Downtown Iowa City is more of a challenge, with damage common from foot traffic. Property owners there are considering creating a special tax district to get a professional downtown manager, and part of the revenue likely would also go toward beautification work.

As with Project GREEN, the city is getting some help downtown already.

Since 2008, Linda Schreiber has led an effort that has resulted in more than 2,000 plants, mostly hostas, being planted downtown.

“The impetus behind it is, if we were a City of Literature, I thought the downtown should reflect that wonderful designation” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said Schreiber, who is retired and in her 60s.

Screening in Coralville

In Coralville, beautification work will be evident as the major reconstruction of First Avenue wraps up soon.

Spiraea, a thick shrub that flowers, will provide a headlight screen for businesses and help define the city right of away, in addition to looking good, said City Engineer Dan Holderness.

“What we're trying to do is mix aesthetics and safety together to get a double-bang out of things we put in,” he said.

A similar approach was taken in the 15-year reconstruction of Highway 6 from Rocky Shore Drive in Iowa City to Coral Ridge Avenue that was completed in 2009.

Before that work, the highway, also known as the Strip, was an ugly stretch full of driveways, potholes, gravel shoulders and deep ditches on each side.

Marion, Hiawatha

Marion Planning and Development Director Tom Treharne said trees are being required for projects on major streets such as 10th and 35th as part of the city's beautification efforts.

Trails and green space are other priorities, he said, with the city finishing portions of trails on both sides of town.

City Administrator Gary Rogers Jr. cited Hiawatha's efforts to increase its tree diversity and a new design plan for business developments on North Center Point Road that requires trees and landscaping.

Green space is required in a new residential subdivision, he said, “and almost all of our plans have a trail component.”