Corridor officials see Christmas decorations as lure for downtowns

Cedar Rapids residents have been witness to an impressive holiday tree at Greene Square for close to five decades, with the last 18 years host to an official tree-lighting ceremony.

It's easy to take in as simply an iconic holiday display. But behind the scenes of the city's decorative tree and holiday lights is a collaborative effort of city staff and volunteers.

While it may come with a cost, the appreciation and participation from the public in the holiday display far outweighs the price, according to Gail Loskill, communications coordinator with the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department.

'For the number of people who receive enjoyment from them, the cost is extremely minimal,” she said. 'We see that as our role as far as participating in special events, not only in the holiday events but all year.”

Loskill said the city spends about $1,600 in wages - about 16 staff members for about six hours - to cut, transport and decorate the tree, and holiday streetlights cost about $1,900 to keep lit.

The tree itself is donated by a member of the public every year, and Coonrod Crane Services transports and sets up the evergreen. Loskill said the crane service and tree is close to a $2,000 donation.

The city's downtown Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District funds the downtown holiday lights and decorations, Loskill said.

In Iowa City, it takes roughly eight people close to 20 hours to install the city's 52 snowflakes and 60 ornaments downtown, said Shannon McMahon, Iowa City communications supervisor.

Fitted with LED lights and integrated into the city's downtown lighting infrastructure, the actual cost of the holiday lights is hard to estimate, but likely very minimal, she said.

In the end, it's about celebrating the holidays and bringing families downtown, McMahon said.

'I think the holiday lighting just makes it more festive downtown and helps attract visitors to the area,” she said. 'The holiday lighting, it's kind of an annual thing that we've worked into the budget.”

With the city's Streetscape Plan beginning to shape downtown in the coming years, McMahon said it's likely the Iowa City holiday display will see some upgrades after 2016.

'The downtown is going to have new lighting, so we'll probably be looking at different ways to light the area,” she said.

In Marion, the community's 22nd annual Christmas in the Park celebration kicked off last Friday and also comes with minimal costs, said Marion Parks and Recreation Director Mike Carolan.

Lighting the community peace tree averages just a few hundred dollars a year with the expense included in the department's operating budget.

'We do not necessarily budget specifically for the decorations in the park,” Carolan said. 'It's just basically absorbed in our operating costs.”

Once the holiday season passes and all those lights come down, Jennifer Jordan, Iowa City Recycling Coordinator, said residents should keep in mind that any damaged lights can be recycled.

In Iowa City, collection bins can be found at all three Hy-Vee locations, the landfill on Hebl Avenue Southwest or East Side Recycling Center on Scott Boulevard.

Actual amounts were unavailable, but Jordan said the number of lights recycled for the copper in their wiring has grown exponentially since the program began about four years ago.

'It's a program that's definitely picked up,” she said. 'It's probably quadrupled in the past four years.”