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Resident urges Urbandale to expand rain gardens, prairie plantings and incentives to slow stormwater runoff
Summary
Urbandale — During the public‑comment portion of its June 17 meeting, resident Tom Small urged the city to expand native prairie plantings, rain gardens and retention ponds to slow stormwater runoff and improve Walnut Creek watershed water quality.
Urbandale — During the public‑comment portion of its June 17 meeting, resident Tom Small urged the city to accelerate use of native prairie plantings, rain gardens and retention ponds to slow stormwater runoff and improve water quality in the Walnut Creek watershed.
Small said Urbandale’s current push to conserve water and recent public discussion about lawn irrigation bans create an opportunity to expand green infrastructure. He asked staff to consider incentives for parking‑lot owners to install rain gardens and cited the Urbandale Sustainability Action Plan, chapter 4 page 78, as consistent with the approach. Small identified the former Kmart/Buccaneer Arena parking area at 70 Third and Hickman as an example of an impervious site that drains into North Walnut Creek and could benefit from treatment.
City response: Mayor and staff thanked Small for the suggestion and offered to follow up. Staff indicated they would provide Small with additional information and that the topic could be considered as part of future budget and watershed‑management work.
Why it matters: Green infrastructure and rewilding measures that increase infiltration and stormwater treatment are commonly used to reduce nutrient runoff and downstream flooding; residents flagged potential pilot locations and requested incentives as part of future budget discussions.
