Private donors step up for Tree of Five Seasons repair

Private donors will pick up an estimated $350,000 tab to repair flood damage to the Tree of Five Seasons and create a new surrounding plaza.

The work will including repairing the sculpture, restoring the lighting and expanding the plaza, Bill Munsell, co-chairman of the Five Seasons Plaza Design Committee, said.

The base will be faced off with granite-finish slabs instead of the original 500 separate tiles. The plaza floor will include three elevated, lighted flagpoles, as well as a water feature of rapids pouring over boulders.

“Cedar Rapids will again have a ‘rapids,'” Munsell said.

Construction is expected to begin late in spring and be completed by fall.

The June 2008 flood heavily damaged the base of the 61-foot-tall stainless tree and plaza at First Avenue and First Street NE. The original granite donor plaques were washed away and floodlights around the base that had illuminated the sculpture were destroyed.

The sculpture, unveiled in May 1996, was designed by Cedar Rapids artist Gary Anderson. It cost $800,000 to create. Like the pending repair work, private funds covered those costs.

City Manager Jim Prosser said the design committee's private fundraising efforts will make it possible to restore the sculpture as the city tackles more pressing post-flood issues.

“The Tree (of Five Seasons) has been a Cedar Rapids focal point for years; it identifies our city, and visitors shoot pictures there,” Prosser said in a statement. “It's important that the Tree and its surroundings be maintained in attractive condition.”

Mark Gullickson, president of Ryan Companies US Inc., said his firm is providing its services at cost and asking subcontractors to do the same to hold down the final tab.

OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids has agreed to handle the design of the plaza at no cost.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett was pleased that the private sector stepped up to handle the Tree of Five Seasons restoration and upgrade.

“The city is up to its neck in important immediate problems, and along comes this group that wants to take on a project the city couldn't do for several years - and at no cost to local taxpayers,” Corbett said.

Julie Sina, Cedar Rapids parks and recreation director, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated $42,600 to repair the Tree of Five Seasons' lighting and electrical damages.

Anderson and Munsell said a $100,000 endowment goal has been established for maintaining the site and $30,000 of that already has been pledged. The city had maintenance responsibility for the sculpture.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation will receive the construction and endowment funds. “The interest of committee members and the response of potential donors has been quick and enthusiastically positive,” Munsell said.