Government Notes: Cedar Rapids reports 11,000 trees have been planted through ReLeaf

This month, 3,000 trees will be planted in public spaces in Cedar Rapids. In a news release issued last week, city officials said this marks a “significant milestone” in Cedar Rapids’ efforts to restore the city’s tree canopy, which was devastated by the August 2020 derecho.

Cedar Rapids estimates it lost roughly 720,000 trees, or 65 percent of the overall tree canopy that existed before the derecho toppled trees with hurricane-force winds.

With this month’s plantings, ReLeaf will reach 11,000 trees planted in public spaces. That’s more than 25 percent of the goal of planting approximately 42,500 trees.

The city announced last week that as of Nov. 30, ReLeaf will have raised or been pledged $22,582,000. That includes $10 million by the Cedar Rapids City Council ($1 million per year commitment for 10 years); $6 million through a U.S. Forest Association (USFA) Forest Service Grant awarded to the City; $3.5 million through the Health and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant; and funding from Trees Forever and the Cedar Rapids Parks Foundation.

“We are excited to restore the vibrancy our neighborhoods with native trees and look forward to seeing a ‘greener’ City as a result,” City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said in a news release.

Residents in several neighborhoods recently received informational letters about the ReLeaf program as well as upcoming plantings near them. The ReLeaf Plan outlines tree-planting locations, identifies optimal species, and outlines priorities for the coming years.

The ReLeaf plan takes into consideration several key factors for determining where trees will be planted and when, while balancing equity across neighborhoods. This approach helps manage the large volume of work and ensures effective replanting within ideal time frames while preserving neighborhood character.

Property owners cannot opt out of having a tree planted in the right of way, as these trees are considered city assets, crucial for stormwater and exhaust absorption, public health, property values, reducing heat islands, and improving walkability.

Residents can visit CityofCR.com/ReLeaf or call the Cedar Rapids Forestry team at 319-286-5747 for more information.

Solon school board seeks new member to fill vacancy

The Solon Community School District is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the school board after board member Jami Wolf resigned because she is moving.

Wolf was first elected to serve on the school board in 2019. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the next board election November 2025.

The board plans to interview applicants and make an appointment at a special board meeting on Nov. 18. Applications must be submitted to the board secretary by 4 p.m. Nov. 15.

Applications can be obtained by emailing Natalie Johnson at njohnson@solon.k12.ia.us or by stopping at the district’s Central Office, 301 South Iowa Street, Solon.

Marion seeks input on future of parks

The City of Marion is inviting the public to help it reimagine an existing park and gather ideas for two new neighborhood parks. The city is working with RDG Planning & Design on the visioning process.

A public open house will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center, 4500 N. 10th St.

The three properties including in the visioning process include:

The ideas gathered will help inform the park master plans for these neighborhood parks.

Gardner Golf Course closes for the season, other CR courses remain open

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As cooler weather settles in this fall, the City of Cedar Rapids has announced Gardner Golf Course closed for the season on Sunday. The city’s other golf courses, Ellis and Twin Pines, will remain open as the weather allows. The closing of all courses will be announced through the city’s social media.

Solon school’s transportation department moves

The Solon Community School District’s transportation department moved to a new location renovated with funds from a $25.5 million bond referendum approved by voters in March 2023. The cost of improvements to the transportation facility — a former truck stop — was about $650,000.

The new location is at 507 N. Market St. in Solon.

The new transportation facility provides buses with covered parking that will help extend the life of district-owned vehicles and reduce the amount of time drivers spend prepping buses in the winter months, school officials say.

Cedar Rapids bridge closed for maintenance, floodgate testing

The City of Cedar Rapids has announced the 12th Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River will be closed for three days this week. The closure will allow crews to perform maintenance on the bridge and to test the 12th Avenue SE flood control roller gate.

The gate, like other flood gates in Cedar Rapids, is designed to be rolled across the street in the event of a flood as part of the city’s permanent flood protection system.

Iowa City shuttle out of service Nov. 14

Due to mandatory staff training for the Iowa City Transportation Department, the city’s 4-Downtown Shuttle will be out of service for the entire day on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Riders north of Burlington Street and east of Gilbert Street are advised to use routes 2-Court Street or 9-Towncrerst, inbound to the Downtown Interchange from the stop at Burlington Street and Lucas Street.

Riders at the Downtown Interchange can take the same routes to the Burlington Street and Johnson Street stop. Both routes have 20-minute service on the weekdays.

For riders south of Burlington Street and east of Gilbert Street, the city recommends taking the 5-Lower Muscatine inbound to the Downtown Interchange from stops at Dodge Street and Bowery Street or Van Buren Street and Bowery.

Anyone coming from the Downtown Interchange can take the same route to the stops at Bowery Street and Johnson Street or Bowery Street and Dodge Street. The route offers 20-minute service on weekdays.

Iowa City’s Ped mall playground to be temporarily closed

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The Iowa City Ped Mall playground will be closed for several days this week as repairs are undertaken. The closure will last from Monday, Nov. 11 to Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The closure will allow for temporary patches to be added to the playground’s surfacing.

The playground was installed in the summer of 2022, replacing a 20-year-old structure. The design was the result of input from the community, and cost about $230,000.

Access limited at Liberty Centre pond in North Liberty

North Liberty’s Liberty Centre Pond will be drained of its water to prepare for contracted work in December. The pond, located at 820 W. Cherry St., will have limited access while the it is being drained and the work is being completed.

Since the pond was opened 18 years ago, water has begun to erode the gravel foundation of the pond.

Throughout construction work in December, access to the pond and nearby walking trails may be limited.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Megan Woolard, Grace King and Sara Konrad Baranowski contributed.