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Parks outlines seasonal sustainability programs: rain barrels, Grow Green, Leaf It and Salt Smart
Summary
Sammy Meyer of Parks and Recreation presented the department’s seasonal sustainability programs — Grow Green (formerly No Mow May), Soak It Up (stormwater), Leaf It (fall mulching/composting) and Salt Smart (winter salt management) — and invited partnerships and community engagement, including a June 25 rain‑barrel giveaway.
Sammy Meyer, outdoor recreation coordinator for the Parks and Recreation and Forestry Department, briefed the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee on seasonal sustainability programs the city runs or supports, and asked the committee to help amplify outreach and consider potential funding partnerships.
Meyer described four seasonal initiatives. Grow Green (previously No Mow May) encourages reduced mowing, longer seasonal leaf retention, native plantings and in-person kickoff events with hands-on activities. Soak It Up, a partnership with La Crosse Area Waters and Habitat for Humanity, focuses on stormwater reduction and education (including rain barrels and practical steps to divert downspouts). Leaf It (fall) promotes mulching leaves and expanding public composting demonstrations and access to compost bins. Salt Smart (winter) promotes calibrated salt use, hosted workshops on brine preparation, and distribution of a 12-ounce measuring cup that the department says is the right amount of salt for a standard sidewalk segment.
Meyer gave several operational details: last year’s rain‑barrel DIY produced and distributed a small number of barrels (four reported); this year the department plans an eight-barrel giveaway at Myrick Park Main Shelter on Wednesday, June 25, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The department also launched a sustainability e-newsletter on June 4 that went to 392 recipients and had a roughly 60% open rate. Meyer said the Parks Department is exploring a municipal group buy for compost bins and hopes to deliver accessible demonstrations for residents who lack tools (the public library’s tool library was cited as a partner).
Why it matters: These programs aim to reduce runoff, improve native habitat and limit unnecessary salt and lawn maintenance citywide. Meyer emphasized demonstration projects, partnerships with nonprofit education groups, and opportunities to pair programmatic outreach with climate-action funding or pilot-policy work.
Committee response and next steps: Members asked how the committee can support the work; Meyer asked members to help share event information, attend public demonstrations, and consider funding partnerships as programs scale. Committee members discussed policy avenues related to tree canopy and potential incentives or ordinance changes to preserve mature trees. Meyer noted the parks department recently received a Wisconsin DNR urban forestry grant to support tree-ordinance revisions and described the existing boulevard tree-planting program and its mix of operating and CIP funding.
Meyer closed by inviting committee members to the June 25 rain-barrel event and asked the committee to continue coordinating on outreach and potential funding match opportunities.
