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City highlights Nature Everywhere partnership to bring green schoolyards and stormwater resilience to Cedar Rapids
Summary
City staff and partners presented the Nature Everywhere initiative, a collaboration with the Children and Nature Network, National League of Cities and Kaboom to create green schoolyards that support outdoor learning, biodiversity and stormwater management; Cedar Rapids is one of two Iowa pilot cities (Dubuque).
Sarah Maples, the city's sustainability program manager, told the Cedar Rapids City Council on June 10 that the Nature Everywhere initiative will focus first on a green schoolyard strategy that integrates learning, play and climate-resilient green infrastructure.
"Our community is fortunate to have" partners from the Children and Nature Network and others, Maples said, and staff described an assessment this year to identify schoolyards with the greatest need for trees, permeable surfaces and educational elements. Michaela Randolph, a technical consultant with the Children and Nature Network, said the partnership aims to foster nature connection and to use green schoolyards to improve stormwater capture and reduce heat on campuses.
Council members asked about shade and tree replacement after the 2020 derecho and outreach to schools; Randolph said funding conversations are ongoing and that planting canopy can complement, and in some cases be preferable to, costly shade structures. "Green schoolyards really is this opportunity to promote outdoor learning opportunities, to provide nature connectivity, increase biodiversity, and also provide respite," Randolph said.
The city plans a kickoff event at Indian Creek Nature Center and an assessment to be completed by October, with staff working across community development, parks, development services and sustainability to integrate practices into parks and school properties. The presentation also noted reliance on outreach (student drawings and an adult survey) to shape design choices.
Councilmembers and community members lauded the partnership and encouraged further engagement; staff did not present a finalized budget or specific funding sources for capital improvements during the presentation. The city said it would continue community engagement and pursue funding options through partner organizations and existing city programs.
The initiative remains in the planning and assessment stage; staff noted a workshop funded by the Children and Nature Network and said subsequent steps will include detailed assessments, stakeholder engagement and integrating practices into the parks master plan and community climate action plan.
