Effective June 1, Iowa City playgrounds, basketball courts and Terrel Mill skate park have reopened. However, bathrooms and drinking fountains at all parks remain closed.
Weekly Party in the Park events will resume on Thursday, June 18, at Riverfront Crossings Park.
City Park pool and City splash pads will remain closed for the 2020 season. Opening dates for indoor pools have not yet been determined.
 Community Connection is a video series that highlights community response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The financial impact of COVID-19 is putting many Iowans at risk of losing their home. In this episode, Mayor Bruce Teague speaks with Ellen McCabe, Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, about how the organization is working to prevent that from happening.
Until the Farmers Market opens for in-person shopping on Saturday, July 4, you can shop online for your produce and other goods. Orders can be placed between Tuesday noon and Wednesday noon, with Saturday morning pickup.
Many thanks go to Field to Family for working with the City to make this possible.
|
 Recycling is as important as ever today, if not more important. Many manufacturers rely on the materials you recycle at home, especially paper and cardboard. But it's important to recycle right, and remember not to recycle personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, masks and gowns; they go in the trash.
 From the Iowa City Public Library
 Sarah Gardner, City of Iowa City Climate Action Engagement Specialist
What do you do for Climate Action?
For many years I worked as a journalist covering climate change, and one of the interviews that has always stuck with me was with Dr. Jason Box, a glaciologist who won a Nobel Prize for his climate work. He said there was no silver bullet to solve climate change, instead what we need is silver buckshot.
I think a lot of what I do is in that spirit: I try to bike or walk or take a bus whenever possible, I volunteer on a local organic farm and eat a plant rich diet, I’ve replaced household appliances with energy efficient units, I compost food scraps, I try to wear out or repair items rather than just buy new. All of these little things that add up. And I’m always on the lookout for the next new climate action to take!
What can others do to take Climate Action?
Keep talking to others about what climate actions you take and why it matters. It feels like a small thing, but research has shown people are far more likely to engage with climate change and take action when it’s part of their regular conversations with friends and family.
So often when we think about addressing climate change, it is in terms of harnessing the power of resources like solar or wind energy or planting more trees and restoring natural areas. Without a doubt, these are important strategies. But we should not overlook the vital resources we have in each other. No one can do this work alone. A strong sense of community and shared purpose are the best tools we have for building resilience.
Why does Climate Action matter to you?
Climate action is a powerful antidote to despair. The challenges we face are so big and frightening, it is easy to be daunted – but that doesn’t actually fix anything. When we roll up our sleeves and get to work, though, when we call upon friends and neighbors to join us, not only do we start to see that solutions are possible, we also generate hope. The best way to believe a better future is possible is to start building it.
|
