2008 Woodie Awards
Re-greening College Green
Abby Harvey - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The tornadoes that ripped through Iowa City in April 2006 devastated far more than the businesses, homes, and lives of those affected.
In the quiet, 2.4-acre green space located at 600 E. College St., dozens of the once tall and majestic trees overlooking the historic College Green Park met their demise at the violent, thrashing hand of the spring storm.
"It was in the direct path of the tornado," said Terry Robinson, the superintendent of parks and forestry for Iowa City. "College Green sustained the most damage, as far as our park systems are concerned."
Although a part of Iowa City history was lost in the storm, new life has been planted in hopes of a full recovery. With the help of memorial funds, insurance money, and generous donations from current and former Iowa City residents, contractors planted 55 new trees in and around the College Green Park area in the past two weeks.
( DITV video feature )
Among the larger shade trees are the white oak, burr oak, linden, sugar maple, ginkgo, and white pine. Various ornamental pear trees, around 30 crab apples, and a variety of lilac bushes were also planted to serve as the smaller, accent additions to the park.
"The plantings were done to be consistent with the use of the park, so when they mature they will still leave space between them for the various activities, such as picnicking, sunbathing, and Frisbee," said Jim Maynard, the development's landscape architect and Project Green representative. "Those kinds of things have all been taken into account in the process."
College Green Park's recent transformation cost nearly $14,000 and the help of three contracting companies - what amounts to pocket change compared with the $250,000 it cost to renovate the park in the early 1990s in the form of tree plantings, benches, new lighting, and grading, Maynard said.
In the quiet, 2.4-acre green space located at 600 E. College St., dozens of the once tall and majestic trees overlooking the historic College Green Park met their demise at the violent, thrashing hand of the spring storm.
"It was in the direct path of the tornado," said Terry Robinson, the superintendent of parks and forestry for Iowa City. "College Green sustained the most damage, as far as our park systems are concerned."
Although a part of Iowa City history was lost in the storm, new life has been planted in hopes of a full recovery. With the help of memorial funds, insurance money, and generous donations from current and former Iowa City residents, contractors planted 55 new trees in and around the College Green Park area in the past two weeks.
( DITV video feature )
Video in QuickTime format, click here for free player download
Among the larger shade trees are the white oak, burr oak, linden, sugar maple, ginkgo, and white pine. Various ornamental pear trees, around 30 crab apples, and a variety of lilac bushes were also planted to serve as the smaller, accent additions to the park.
"The plantings were done to be consistent with the use of the park, so when they mature they will still leave space between them for the various activities, such as picnicking, sunbathing, and Frisbee," said Jim Maynard, the development's landscape architect and Project Green representative. "Those kinds of things have all been taken into account in the process."
College Green Park's recent transformation cost nearly $14,000 and the help of three contracting companies - what amounts to pocket change compared with the $250,000 it cost to renovate the park in the early 1990s in the form of tree plantings, benches, new lighting, and grading, Maynard said.
Be the first to comment on this story