Project Green co‑presidents Diane Allen and Cindy Parsons recount 58 years of volunteer landscaping in Iowa City

Diane Allen and Cindy Parsons, co‑presidents of Project Green, presented a historical overview and site update to the Iowa City Parks & Recreation Commission, highlighting multi‑decade volunteer efforts at prominent city sites including Iowa Avenue medians and the Ashton House grounds (820 Park Road). "I'm Cindy Parsons and this is Diane Allen," Parsons said when introducing the pair to the commission.

Project Green traces its roots to 1968, the presenters said, and its early campaigns focused on beautifying entrance corridors into Iowa City. The group has partnered for decades with the city and the Parks & Recreation Department on planting and maintenance; presenter remarks cited early founders Nancy Seiberling, landscape architect Jim Maynard and Gretchen Harshbarger. "We started as a quasi city commission and the city still handles our funds," Parsons told commissioners.

The presentation described several ongoing programs: an annual kindergarten tree‑planting partnership with the Iowa City landscaping program that assigns each kindergarten a tree to follow through elementary school, an open gardens weekend with curated neighborhood tours, and free winter garden forums held at the Iowa City Public Library. The presenters said they expect 12 to 25 gardens to participate in this year’s open gardens weekend and encouraged public attendance.

At the Ashton House — an eight‑acre site on the Iowa River — presenters summarized recent improvements funded in part by two REAP grants (including one in 2015 and a more recent round), such as new signage, sidewalks, lighting, prairie plantings, a bird blind, bicycle repair station and a back patio created under an earlier grant. They noted plant selection must balance flood resistance and deer resistance and that beaver activity has caused recent losses to some trees.

Project Green also described fundraising and operations. Parsons said the nonprofit has raised "over $2,400,000" for public landscaping projects and that funds are deposited and administered through a city account. The group emphasized reliance on volunteers rather than paid staff and highlighted a recent donor purchase of a utility vehicle — affectionately named "Fern" — that has improved ability to haul mulch and plants.

Commissioners and audience members asked about archives and historic photos; presenters noted some archival materials were lost in past floods but that other materials have been donated to the historical society or appear in online collections. Commissioners thanked the presenters and staff for the overview and for ongoing volunteer efforts.

Project Green invited interested residents to volunteer at scheduled Monday morning work sessions and to attend upcoming plantings and events at Ashton House and elsewhere in the city. The presentation closed with a reminder about free educational programs and the group’s continuing need for volunteers and donations.