The City of Iowa City has recently released the Annual Sustainability Report for 2015. The report summarizes previous goals and efforts related to creating a more sustainable Iowa City, and discusses projects for 2016. Read the full report here.
IISC celebration will mark sustainability accomplishments
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) will host an event on Monday, May 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Iowa City's City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, to celebrate advances in sustainability due to collaborative efforts between the City of Iowa City and the University of Iowa in the past year. The two entities worked together on 11 projects that focused on sustainability in the Iowa City community. Learn more about the IISC here.
Got milkweed? Help the Monarchs with plantings!
Native milkweed species are disappearing from
the Midwest, which in turn is harming the Monarch butterfly population, as they
only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The Monarch caterpillars eat the
milkweed, which makes them toxic to other species and predators. Monarchs migrate
annually, but their migration is in danger as they lose their natural
habitats.
Help reverse the trend and plant your own
milkweed! Join us at the “Monarch Madness” Spring Plant Sale on May 14-15 at the
Bloomington Street entrance to Hickory Hill Park. The sale will run from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. Friends of Hickory Hill Park will also sponsor a Wildflower Walk in the park, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
2016 Farmers Market season opens Wednesday, May 4
The Iowa City Farmers Market 2016 season is about to get underway! The markets will launch on Wednesday, May 4 at Chauncey Swan Ramp, located on East Washington Street across from City Hall. Fresh foods and local goods will be available during the Farmers Markets held on Wednesdays (5 to 7 p.m.) and Saturdays (7:30 a.m. to noon) at the Chauncey Swan Ramp, as well as on Tuesdays (3 to 6 p.m.) at Mercer Park on Bradford Street.
An added feature this year is the credit card/SNAP program. Patrons will be allowed to swipe their credit cards or EBTs in exchange for tokens, which they can then use to make their purchases. Learn more here.
Bike Month in May features Bike Boulevard event
Celebrate Bike Month in May with the Iowa City Bike Boulevard event! On Saturday, May 21 from 7 a.m. to noon, ride your bike on College Street using a temporary "Bike Boulevard." The purpose of this event is to learn the rules of biking on the road and to show support for the bike-friendly streets in Iowa City. Check out the Facebook page for more information. And don't forget, "Bike to Work Week" is May 15-20. For more information, go here.
Get in touch with Iowa City's natural side
Did you know that Iowa City has almost 1,000 acres of natural area that is open to the public? In a span of 70 years that ended in 1900, 97% of Iowa’s land was converted to farmland, which is why it’s so crucial to preserve some of the original ecosystem. These natural areas also provide a long list of benefits, some of which areincreasing species diversity, helping to reduce flooding, and helping to protect water quality. Read more about Iowa City's natural areas here. Ryerson's Woods, on Old Highway 218 South, is a great place to see woodland windflowers, like Dutchman's Breeches (see photo at left).
Sustainability Spotlight: Zac Hall
This
month's Sustainability Spotlight focuses on Zac Hall's efforts
toward sustainability. Zac,
Iowa City's Superintendent of Parks and Forestry, has worked to lower
the department's energy output by reducing the frequency of maintenance in
certain areas. Zac has
lowered the mowing rates and focused on improving non-parkland areas, as well designated
prairie land, to increase
biodiversity.
Read more about Zac here.
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This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Office of Sustainability Services. For more information, contact Brenda Nations, Coordinator, at 319-887-6161 or brenda-nations@iowa-city.org.