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Brookview Elementary 'mini forest' reported as community and educational success
Summary
Volunteers, students and city staff turned a 2024 planting at Brookview Elementary into Iowa’s first mini forest; council praised the project and organizers said trees and educational features are thriving.
At the Nov. 3 West Des Moines City Council meeting, volunteer organizer Walter Pearson updated the council on Iowa’s first mini forest at Brookview Elementary, planted in May 2024.
Pearson said the original planting included 28 trees and bushes across 28 species and involved about 600 Brookview students and roughly 80 community volunteers. High-school volunteers contributed to design work, built an interpretive sign, helped with planting and maintenance, and created a project website.
“We went from basically a nicely mowed field … to what you see out there today — the sycamores are 9 feet tall,” Pearson said, crediting city parks staff (including Ryan Penning and Marco Alvarez) and the urban forester for site selection and support. Council members praised the project’s education and volunteer engagement and asked about future volunteer opportunities; organizers said a spring weeding event is planned.
The council voiced appreciation for the group’s work and for its partnerships with the city’s Parks and Recreation and public services divisions. The presentation concluded with council members encouraging residents to take part in future volunteer days.
