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18 Parks & Environmental Services: Massive waterline project helps make Garden of the Gods Park more accessible and safer for all
22 Parks & Environmental Services: Hydrant parties provide free summer fun for Rapid City residents options
26 Parks & Environmental Services: Wichita realizes destination playground
28 Parks & Environmental Services: Reviving the riverfront: Providence’s bold greenway transformation
32 Parks & Environmental Services: Follow the fun: Des Moines Park-N-Play program is a hit with residents
38 Public Safety: Boise offers Youth Firesetting Intervention Program
40 Municipal Management: Public art program puts Coldwater on the map
42 Public Works: Wenatchee ‘Megakittrick’ wins APWA award
48 Waste & Recycling: Excess vegetative waste leads to free mulch program
50 Streets, Highways & Bridges: Johnson City reimagined: The story of Walnut Street’s revitalization
52 Municipal Management: Keys to Community is a win-win for Ontario, Calif., residents and community
The cooperative buying model allows manufacturers like Land Pride or Kubota to respond to an RFP that covers a municipality’s needs, such as snow management. The proposal is reviewed, vetted for accuracy and ability, including competitive pricing. Learn more about how cooperative buying can reduce costs and ease the purchasing process on page 10.
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Contributing Writers
Jennifer Barton, Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Lauren Caggiano, Nicholette Carlson, Denise Fedorow, Katie Graham, Danielle Lund, Janet G. Patterson, Julie Young
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Opportunities abound in local parks
Sarah Wright | Editor
Parks often serve as the locations of happy memories. They offer avenues for connecting and learning about the natural world. Really, nothing beats a refreshing walk after a long week at work, especially when surrounded by trees, the breeze rustling their leaves, interrupted only by the gentle songs of birds. Suddenly, the rush to complete task A or reach point Z vanishes. However, parks are more than trees and birds.
Parks are vibrant, central hubs in any community, made special by the efforts of the parks professionals who pour their passion into them. From summer music concerts and hydrant parties to bird watching and walks, park professionals are bringing a variety of programs to their residents, creating vibrant communities where people want to work, stay and play.
The National Recreation and Park Association’s “The Value of Local Community Activities” found that “more than two in three U.S. adults highly value local community activities such as festivals, holiday events, fairs and farmers’ markets for the families in their area.”
Related to this finding, the 2025 NRPA Agency Performance Review found that “91% of park and recreation agencies offer themed special events and 22% manage farmers’ markets.”
Having been a vendor at one of those parksoperated farmers’ markets, I have many fond memories of time spent in the park. You’d run into so many people at the farmers’ market while enjoying local musicians, artisans, produce and food. It truly brought the community together.
This issue of The Municipal highlights the pivotal roles of parks departments within their communities.
Writer Nicholette Carlson spotlights an enormous project in Colorado, where several organizations, including the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, completed an 8,000-foot waterline project in the Garden of the Gods Park. Beyond a new restroom and fire hydrants, this project also
sought to improve accessibility in the park. It is truly a momentum undertaking.
We’ll highlight other building projects, too. Writer Janet Patterson writes about Wichita, Kan.’s, completed renovations to Clapp Park, which brought its first adaptive playground to the community. On the other side of the country, writer Danielle Lund highlights Providence, R.I.’s, Woonasquatucket River Greenway Improvement Project that brings equitable recreation options to the community alongside new infrastructure investments.
Carlson and fellow writer Julie Young will also highlight the fun programs that Rapid City, S.D., and Des Moines, Iowa, respectively, are using to connect with residents. In Rapid City, several departments are uniting to create hydrant parties that have been extremely popular. Meanwhile, Des Moines’ Park-N-Play van is bringing the fun to areas of the city that don’t have as many recreation options.
This October, join one of your local parks department’s programs and engage with fellow recreation enthusiasts. Or simply take time to bask in the natural beauty found in your area with a good trail. M
Cooperative buying 101
ABOVE: The Land Pride SBP1674 inverted 3-point snow blower makes quick work of snow in parking lots and drives.(Photos provided by Land Pride)
Make the most of your fleet dollars Managing tighter budgets when everything seems to be going up requires smart choices and sound fiscal management of taxpayer dollars. Purchasing managers for cities, counties, municipalities and state agencies have a big task to make the most of their grounds maintenance or snow management budgets. Shopping for snow removal equipment in October doesn’t leave time for time-consuming requests for proposals (RFP), evaluations and awards. It also cuts into the budget you have allocated for the purchase of the equipment. And we all know that simply negotiating your best deal is not how government works.
Manufacturers with a cooperative contract that speeds the buying process are the way to go when a purchase needs to be made inseason when the equipment will be used. In this scenario, utilizing the cooperative buying process can help agencies save money or at least stretch the dollars a little farther, and won’t allow a big-ticket item to be a budget buster.
For a public works superintendent or director looking for equipment to aid in snow management, cooperative buying can mean less time soliciting bids and more time actually moving snow. In 2025, cities, counties and municipalities see real value in utilizing a cooperative purchasing agency to maximize their purchasing power while protecting tax dollars.
How can cooperative buying help?
The cooperative buying model is really quite simple. This type of purchasing model allows manufacturers like Land Pride or Kubota to respond to an RFP that covers a need, such as snow management. The proposal is reviewed, vetted for accuracy and ability, including competitive pricing. Once the contract is awarded to manufacturers that meet the bid criteria, it allows a large group (cooperative) of buyers with similar interests to leverage their buying power to get contract discounts on products or services, stretching their budgets. By using a cooperative model, government agencies also save time and effort because the process is simplified for them as the buyer.
Let’s look at a small municipality that worked with Land Pride and one of our dealers last fall on a recent purchase. The street maintenance superintendent called Land Pride in need of a tool to clear snow from their city-managed parking areas. He was looking for a solution that saved him time and money while still getting the brand and model that he and his crew wanted. Land Pride suggested using one of our cooperative-buying contracts because the Land Pride products the customer wanted could be purchased easily and at a competitively-bid price. The dealer’s role in the sale was to help with setup, delivery and after-the-sale service.
In fairly short order, Land Pride recommended and quoted an 8-foot snow pusher that fit the needs of the city while providing substantial discounts as outlined in the cooperative contract. The superintendent reviewed the quotes and issued a purchase order, and the dealer and Land Pride handled the rest. Within a few weeks, the process was complete.
What can be bought on a cooperative contract?
The simple answer to this question is “almost anything.” Land Pride and other implement manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that customers can buy the products they need on a cooperative contract. When you encounter companies like Land Pride and Kubota that both hold the same cooperative contract, entire equipment packages can be purchased, making it a one-stop shop for fleet and public works superintendents.
For winter use, Land Pride offers a host of snow management tools that can be purchased at substantial discounts, maintaining your budget while getting the quality and brand you want to buy. Blades, snow pushers and snow blowers both front and rear mount can simplify snow removal from common areas like parks and lots that are often overlooked during the critical roadclearing tasks that must occur after a snow event. Blades and pushers as small as 4 feet wide make quick work of sidewalks, while snow blowers can move snow from one spot to another quickly.
After the snow is gone, Land Pride can be relied upon for planting implements like an overseeder for refreshing the lawns on fields or in parks. Drills or all-purpose seeders can help in spring roadside reclamation projects. During the growing months, there are flexwing cutters and flail mowers for roadside maintenance. Open areas like parks and sports fields require an all-flex mower that will leave a great cut in turf grasses and lawn alternatives, like clover.
Non-seasonal tools, like tillers for landscaping and planting projects, are high on the cooperative buying list. Tools like a grading scraper or an arena grader can be put to work maintaining gravel drives, small dirt and gravel lots, or horse and rodeo arenas. For storm cleanup, grounds maintenance teams can look for grapples, chippers and pallet forks. All of these and more can be purchased on one of Land Pride’s cooperative contracts.
Cooperative buying has options
There are many cooperative buying groups that states, cities, counties and municipalities can be a part of. Land Pride offers contracts with several; Sourcewell and BuyBoard are just two. Universities and schools
have options for cooperative buying, too. With so many cooperative contracts available, buyers need to choose the one that best meets their buying needs.
Organizations like Sourcewell and the BuyBoard make sure everything is transparent. As the contract issuers, they maintain all the paperwork, and the contracts are competitively solicited, evaluated and awarded by a public agency that is bound by laws regulating the process. Everything is available for public review.
Understanding the process can help purchasing professionals make the most
of their dollars. By sourcing needed equipment through a cooperative contract, maintenance superintendents or grounds maintenance managers can benefit from the time- and money-saving process that cooperative contracts provide. Buyers have to do their homework, like with anything, but by seeking reputable manufacturers like Land Pride, they can be confident that they are managing their resources appropriately and maximizing the dollar allotted to their departments.
For information, visit www.landpride.com.
For arena upkeep, a Land Pride Arena Grader can break clods and fluff the soil for a professional finish.
Land Pride Grapples are ideal tools for storm debris cleanup and are available on our cooperative contracts.
The ‘It’ factor:
Author Stephen King enriches Bangor’s literary history
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
It is the city that inspired the fictional town of Derry, Maine, where a possessed Paul Bunyan comes to life and attacks Richie Tozier. It is the place where Stan Uris encounters something so terrifyingly horrible at the local standpipe that he would rather die than come face-to-face with it again. And of course, it is the place where Georgie Denbrough chases his paper boat into a storm drain and succumbs to Pennywise the clown.
Established in the mid-19th century and anchored by the lumber and shipbuilding industries, the queen city of Bangor, Maine, may be the state’s third most popular community it has 31,753 residents but it ranks No. 1 with horror readers everywhere, thanks to the work of renown author Stephen King.
A local legend
Born in Portland, Maine, on Sept. 21, 1947, King was already a wellestablished writer when he and his wife, Tabitha, moved to Bangor in 1980 after stints in Boulder, Colo.; Auburn, Maine; and England. He
ABOVE: Here is the iconic William Arnold House on West Broadway Street in Bangor. Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha, moved into the Victorian mansion in 1980 after a stint in Colorado and England. The house is still owned by King; however, he spends most of the year in Florida. Although it is not open to tourists, visitors can often be found taking a selfie from the sidewalk. (Photo provided by SK-Tours of Maine)
had published “Carrie” in 1974, “Salem’s Lot” in 1975, “The Shining” in 1977 and “The Stand” in 1978, among other novels and short stories.
After settling into the William Arnold House, a red Victorian mansion on West Broadway Street, he found the perfect place to pen a story he’d been carrying around in his head for five years. He told reporters that it would be set in Bangor and would include a number of local haunts. Released in 1986, “It” would make a splash, selling over 2.5 million copies and becoming one of King’s most successful works.
The local connections were not limited to “It,” so it didn’t take long for folks to descend on Bangor in search of anything related to Stephen King.
The Mt. Hope Cemetery is where part of the movie “Pet Sematary” was filmed, featuring a cameo of Stephen King himself. Visitors to the famed location can find the graves that inspired two of King’s greatest characters: Carrie, a bullied telekinetic teen, and Georgie, who had an unfortunate encounter with Pennywise the clown in a storm drain. (Photo provided by SK-Tours of Maine)
In 2012, Stu Tinker saw an opportunity and capitalized on it. He created SK-Tours to help King fans find the places they had read about in King’s books. The tours initially operated as a caravan with approximately 200 guests taking part the first season. However, thanks to coverage on A&E channel’s “Biography,” “City Confidential,” and in national publications, word spread. When Stu retired, he sold the business to his son, Jamie, and his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Millar. Both are long-time King fans and kept the tours going.
“We only run tours from mid-March to mid-November, but this year, we estimate that we will serve 4,000 guests both on our tours and in our shop,” Jennifer said.
The narrated tours include at least a dozen locations that are relevant to King’s life and career in Bangor. Millar said the most popular stop is King’s former home on West Broadway Street. Although the author still owns that house and it remains a private residence, it is not open to the public. However, SK Tours does stop to allow guests to take pictures and selfies from the sidewalk.
Other popular landmarks include the Paul Bunyan statue in Bass Park, the storm drain at the corner of Jackson and Union Streets and Mt. Hope Cemetery, where a portion of the movie “Pet Sematary” was filmed. Jamie and Jennifer note that King gave a cameo in that film as a preacher.
A collaborative initiative
While SK Tours makes four stops on the public tours so that guests can take photos, they also offer private tours that can be customized depending on level of interest. These tours often include additional stops as well as information regarding “Insomnia,” “The Langoliers,” “Dream Catcher,” “11/22/63,” “The Stand” and “Bag of Bones.”
Set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, Stephen King’s “It” features a Paul Bunyan statue that becomes possessed and attacks an unsuspecting character. Located in Bass Park in Bangor, Maine, the larger-than-life lumberjack has never been accused of foul play. (Photo provided by SK-Tours of Maine)
“We often get referrals from the chamber of commerce and the Downtown Bangor Partnership. We have collaborated with the Downtown Partnership and historical society for Facebook Live events showcasing the city and its rich history,” Millar said. “This year alone, we have already had guests from all 50 states, including Washington D.C., and 25 different countries.”
Stephanie Crynes took an SK Tour on June 12 and found Tinker and Millar delightful and gregarious.
“Even the gift shop and home base, before the tour, were exciting and full of surprises,” she said in a Facebook review. “On the tour, we learned about filming sites, story inspiration, the King family history, King family philanthropy and Bangor History. The guide, Jamie, said no tears, so I had to hold back during a couple stories that tugged on my heartstrings: But mostly it was laughs and ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs.’ I’d recommend this tour to anyone!”
Naomi Bradshaw of Hinkley, U.K, said her experience touring Stephen King’s Bangor was amazing. Not only was the tour interesting and immersive, but it was the highlight of her trip to New England.
“We honestly did not want this tour to end,” she said in an online review.
No matter if a person is a fan of Stephen King or looking for a little Bangor lore, the tour offers the best of both worlds and will provide memories to remember especially during the Halloween season.
$25,000
The equipment in Des Moines, Iowa’s, Park-N-Play van was paid for with a $25,000 On Common Ground Grant from the Trust for Public Land.
Park & Play
17,700 square feet
As part of its greenway revitalization project, Providence, R.I., is reducing pavement by over 17,700 square feet, planting street trees and installing bioswales with native plants to manage stormwater.
Rapid City, S.D., had 200 children attend its hydrant party at Sioux Park in 2025. 200
Environmental advocates from Memphis, Tenn., and around the state petitioned the EPA against the potential installation of up to 90 additional gas turbines around a large supercomputer complex because of air quality and water usage concerns. The petition was denied.
Parks & Environmental Services
8,000 feet
The Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Spring, Colo., has embarked on a massive waterline project that will add 8,000 feet of waterline to the park and nine fire hydrants. This will allow the addition another restroom to the park.
2,018%
Girls’ high school wrestling has experienced a meteoric rise of 2,018% from the 1998-99 school year to the present. Parks and recreation departments that offer girls’ teams in various sports previously reserved for boys are also seeing high participation
Read how to implement girls’ football, wrestling and other programs at https://ezine. nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2025/index.php#/p/26.
$2,500
Approximate amount of money saved in three hours a single afternoon by Owensville Parks and Recreation in Missouri thanks to labor provided by 24 Owensville High School students one day last year. The students pulled weeds, painted parking blocks, scrubbed light poles and more as part of the 3rd Annual Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program. They also learned potential career skills.
Learn about this massive water project on page 18.
Find how the Rapid City Parks Department and other municipal agencies connect with the community during hydrant parties on page 22.
Read more about the Park-N-Play program on page 32.
Read more about the Woonasquatucket River Greenway project on page 28.
Massive waterline project helps make Garden of the Gods Park more accessible and safer for all
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
The Garden of the Gods Park brought the idea to the Colorado Springs Parks Department, which then partnered with the Colorado Springs Fire Department and Colorado Springs Utilities. Utilities wished to do work to increase water pressure, provide sediment control and connect two water systems. (Photo provided by the Garden of the Gods Regional Park and Colorado Springs, Colo., Parks Department)
In Colorado Springs, Colo., the Garden of the Gods Park typically averages between 4.5 million and 5 million visitors and is open year-round. There is only one restroom open year-round. In order to convert the additional seasonal restroom to a year-round restroom, a waterline needed to be installed. This was the largest catalyst for the parks to initiate the massive waterline project. The waterline project added 8,000 feet of waterline to the park and nine fire hydrants.
The predecessor to Anna Cordova, Garden of the Gods regional park manager, had previously approached Jacob Butterfield, the parks department capital project coordinator, about wanting a new waterline for the park. Butterfield believed it would be a tough project and, since his focus is on parks and sidewalks, the park would need to partner with additional city agencies. The Colorado Springs Fire Department and Colorado Springs Utilities were contacted for collaboration on the project. The neighborhood south of the park needed more water pressure, and utilities wanted to do sediment control on a utility line that had a dead end in the park. It was also discovered that the project would be a good location to put a connection between two different water systems and connect 3,000 feet on the end of the utility’s existing line.
The large amount of waterline being placed made it necessary to tear up part of the trail and sidewalk. Since the sidewalk needed to be redone, it was decided to bring in the Office of Accessibility to ensure the new sidewalks had Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades. Accessibility is important due to the high number of visitors each year, so anyone and everyone has access to the central garden to view the rock formations and wildlife.
The idea for the waterline project came about in 2023, and the department got a designer under contract. In 2024, Colorado Springs Utilities was brought on board, and the plan set was completed. Construction on the project began over Labor Day in 2024. By Memorial Day this year, the project was 99% complete with the waterline and walkway completed. There were two project managers, with Colorado Springs Utilities being responsible for laying the waterline and
Each year, the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colo., averages between 4 million and 5 million visitors. In order to make it safer, more accessible and lay the groundwork for a second year-round restroom, a massive waterline project was recently completed. (Photo provided by the Garden of the Gods Regional Park and Colorado Springs, Colo., Parks Department)
Butterfield responsible for putting the park back together after it was done. Because of the planning and communication between all the partners, there were no excessive delays.
Most of the project was completed during the winter to avoid disrupting the busier spring and summer months.
“Any project we do, we try to make sure we don’t do it in the summer when there’s the most visitors,” Cordova described.
Doing the project during the winter months was a concern for the contractors. The department also wanted to ensure the park remained open the entire time the project was underway. However, the intergarden trails had to be closed during the eight months, which is a main artery into the park. After a few months, the horses had to be detoured. Road closures were adjusted and communicated as necessary.
In order to ensure regular park visitors knew of upcoming closures and work being done, the department did a robust public campaign to notify the city and all surrounding neighborhoods that the project was coming and there would be a regular disruption to the park until its completion. There was an initial schedule of road and parking closures, but it had to be adjusted at times. News releases and
Some challenges throughout the project were hitting more rock than predicted, the need for an archeologist on-site to ensure proper historic preservation and the need for more handrails than originally thought. (Photo provided by the Garden of the Gods Regional Park and Colorado Springs, Colo., Parks Department)
social media blasts were sent out to get the word out to the public in advance as quickly as possible. If a trail needed to be closed, the department ensured it was rerouted, and that there was detour signage easily visible.
“The community was very patient because they understood the project and that we were working to improve and enhance the park,” Cassie Melvin, public communications specialist, shared. “People understood what we were trying to do. The park is now better than ever.”
One challenge encountered during construction was the team hitting more rock than expected. There also had to be an archaeologist to monitor the site for historic preservation purposes. Any time work is done in the Garden of the Gods Park, there have to be tribal consultations. While there are 49 tribes with ties to Colorado, primary consultation is with the resident Ute tribes. The department has an agreement with the Ute that any time a large amount of dirt is to be moved, an archaeologist must be on hand to ensure nothing large is being disturbed.
“We brought the tribe out and proposed the idea to them and got their input as the original caretakers of the land,” Cordova explained. “We took some input, such as where it was placed, so as to not disturb the park in any way that was not necessary.” Two monitors were present throughout the project, and only small items were discovered from the more recent past.
More handrails needed to be installed than originally planned, as well as applying a vertical grade to ensure the slope was less than 5%. Ramps and handrails were installed throughout the trail to the accessible parking lot. With bighorn sheep in the park, they also had to occasionally be shooed from the road.
The total cost of the project was $3.5 million. Funding for the project was split fairly evenly between the parks and recreation department and Colorado Springs Utilities. Parks and recreation paid for the archaeological monitoring and the design. The utilities department has a healthy budget for such a project from its ratepayers. Meanwhile, the parks and recreation side gathered some of its money from city sales tax funds, but the majority came from the Garden of the Gods Foundation, which the department has a partnership with. The land for the visitor’s center was donated with the stipulation that the center give a large amount of its profits to the park. Additionally, the foundation gives 70% of its proceeds to the park for upkeep and capital projects. The Office of Accessibility also contributed funds toward making the sidewalk and parking lot ADA-accessible.
The inter-garden trails needed to be closed during construction. The department made sure trail closures were communicated to the public and detours were easily visible. (Photo provided by the Garden of the Gods Regional Park and Colorado Springs, Colo., Parks Department)
Hydrant parties provide free summer fun for Rapid City residents
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
Hydrant parties have been seen throughout South Dakota as a great way to connect with the community. When Lindsey Myers, Rapid City, S.D., Parks and Recreation specialist, was looking for new events that had never been done or had not been done in a while, she began looking at other local parks and recreation departments. She saw the success Sioux Falls had with hydrant parties and decided to pursue the idea for Rapid City, teaming up with other local departments to put a smile on children’s faces and give families some free family fun.
In order to have a hydrant party, one of Myers’ first connections and partners was the local fire department. Once she got the fire department on board, she began reaching out to other local departments that have outreach programs. These included the police department, solid waste department and public library with its bookmobile. The
solid waste department has had fun activities for the children to help teach about recycling and what goes in the landfill. There were also reusable water balloons, water guns and fun games along with activities for the younger children while the water was being sprayed. The parks and
ABOVE: The city’s hydrant parties have been happening for three years now. In the first year, there were three events. The second year had two because of inclement weather. In 2025, there will only be one event because of inclement weather.
(Photo provided by the Rapid City, S.D., Parks and Recreation Department)
recreation department is now in the third year with hydrant parties.
One difference between the Rapid City hydrant party and other hydrant parties is that, in Rapid City, firefighters will simply spray water from the truck for the party as opposed to actually using a hydrant. Myers feels it may be slightly safer for the children with the water spray and also helps to make finding a location easier. While other cities may have to find a parking lot or block off an intersection in order to hold a hydrant party,
Rapid City can hold a party wherever the truck can fit. This way, Myers also doesn’t have to worry about figuring out how much water may be used and ensuring they have the right hookup for a hydrant. She also tries to ensure the fire department is set up so that the water sprays onto the grass of the park. Myers has learned through trial and error the best locations to fit the fire truck over the years.
The hydrant parties are marketed primarily through social media. While the parks and recreation department does not have its own marketing employee, Facebook has been a huge asset. The department also receives assistance from the employee in charge of communication for the rest of the city departments. They help to schedule press releases and put the parties on community calendars. Departments mention the events when possible during interviews or interaction with the public.
In 2023, the parks and recreation department had three hydrant parties at three different locations. In 2024, there were also three locations planned, but the final one was canceled because of weather. Traditionally, the department held hydrant parties once a month in June, July, and August.
“We try to space them out so they are weeks away from each other,” Myers explained. “May has such tricky weather, and you never know what you’re going to get.”
This year there were only two events planned, with the parks department skipping the month of August, which gets busier with school starting and other activities planned within other departments. Moving forward, the plan is to keep just the two yearly events in June and July. The event is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
In January or February each year, Myers begins setting up a timeline of days to present to all the other departments to see what works well for them. It is then modified so that it works well for all the departments involved.
“We have a great collaboration with everyone,” Myers emphasized. “We work with everyone else’s schedule. They get to take three hours out of their day to have some fun and still make sure they get their work done.”
In 2023, the event was held on Fridays. However, they soon realized that on many Fridays people were traveling, and so it was
Instead of using an actual hydrant, Rapid City simply uses the hoses on the fire truck for its event. (Photo provided by the Rapid City, S.D., Parks and Recreation Department)
thought the middle of the week might be better for both families and volunteers. For the last two years, the event has been held on Wednesdays. Another item for discussion has been the location of the events. “Does the location work? Is it big enough to hold hundreds of people?” The Sioux Park location has been used for two years, and College Park has been used all three years. Each year, there seems to be an increase in participation.
Volunteers arrive at the park early to prepare, request that any cars in the parking lot be moved and ensure the area is properly blocked off. The bookmobile and solid waste activity area are moved as far from the water spraying as possible. In the first year, the department saw 20 children at the first location, 70 children at the second location and 50 children at the third location. Last year, there were 50 children at the first location and 70 children at the second location. This year, there were roughly 200 children at the event at Sioux Park.
“We know we would have seen an increase in the second event this year also, but weather had different plans,” Myers stated.
In order to make this event a reality, the parks department had to partner with the fire department. It also partnered with the solid waste department and public library to put on additional activities and bring the bookmobile. (Photo provided by the Rapid City, S.D., Parks and Recreation Department)
Wichita realizes destination playground
By JANET G. PATTERSON | The Municipal
When the municipal golf course at Wichita, Kan.’s, LW Clapp Memorial Park closed in 2019, the question put to city residents was “What do we do next?”
In 1921, the property opened as an 18-hole golf course. In 1955, the city purchased the course, but usage declined after more than 50 years of operation. Originally known as Meadow Lark Golf Course, the name of the park was later changed to LW Clapp Memorial Park to honor the founder of the Wichita park system.
In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic after the golf course’s closure, the city embarked on a master planning process for the park’s future, engaging more than 1,000 residents in surveys and presentations, all done online. “We saw a surge in (overall)
park usage during the pandemic and heard the desire to retain green space from the community,” said Tim Kellans, Wichita’s principal planner and landscape architect.
In addition to improved walking trails and a dog park, the final master plan called for a destination playground.
“It made sense to include a playground that was inclusive and able to be used by the entire community,” Kellans added.
So, the project team began discussions with the local disability experts and organizations to learn more about the needs of those with disabilities in the community and
ABOVE: The playground at the renovated LW Clapp Memorial Park provides space for activities as well as contemplation and resting out of the sun. (Photo provided by Wichita, Kan.)
to identify beneficial playground features to include in the project. With the help of local agencies, Heartspring and Envision, both of which provide services to people with disabilities, the team was able “to enrich the diverse playground experiences and provide greater inclusivity,” Kellans said.
The city hired Confluence Inc., a landscape architecture firm that is familiar with Wichita and completed a similar project in nearby Kansas City.
Typically, an inclusive play area is designed for children of all abilities with features such as accessible pathways and
surfaces for easy access and navigability, sensory play elements for children with sensory processing disabilities, and play equipment, such as swings, for children who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. In addition to ensuring a safe environment for all children, the play area provides spaces that encourage interactions with others of different backgrounds and abilities.
The project team also asked local schoolchildren for their ideas as part of the design process for the renovated park. The team, along with parks staff and city council member Mike Hoheisel, visited elementary schools, getting feedback on the playground’s design and elements.
Included in the conversations were ideas for the signature piece for the park and play area, a 20-foot-tall glass and metal sculpture titled “Voxel Clouds.” Inspired by the popular “Minecraft” game and historically traditional jungle gym designs, New York-based artist Osman Akan created the structure that welcomes visitors to the park.
Colored glass panels in the sculpture engage the attention and imagination of park goers with reflections of the colors and patterns that change on the plaza below as the sun moves. The sculpture has already gained international attention by being selected as one of the top 100 public art projects in the world for 2025 by CODAworx, a global hub for the commissioned art world.
A Wichita company, Conco Construction, was the general contractor for the playground as well as a dog park within LW Clapp Memorial Park. The company used stones, native grasses and earthy colors to create a natural environment. Kellans described the park as “an island of open green space within the city (that) provides a calming natural atmosphere.”
The master plan implementation fund for park renovations is $6.1 million, with other improvements still in the works. Funding for the project was allocated in the city’s capital improvement budget. Additionally, the Wichita Parks Foundation donated $100,000 toward the project.
Wichita’s park system consists of 122 parks, totaling nearly 5,000 acres. Eventually, the city plans a system of greenways connecting many of the city’s major parks and providing additional hiking and biking opportunities. The city’s recreation facilities include eight
Rubberized surfaces and wide-open spaces make the playground at LW Clapp Memorial Park in Wichita, Kan., a safe and friendly place for children of all abilities. (Photo provided by Wichita, Kan.)
community recreation centers, six swimming pools and 53 athletic fields.
Wichita has the largest population in the state of Kansas and is the birthplace of many businesses, including White Castle, Pizza Hut, Coleman camping gear, Cessna, Beechcraft and Lear. In 1929, the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce named Wichita “Air City Capital” for the breadth of the aircraft industry located there. In 1931, BoeingWichita was the largest employer in the city and later grew to be the largest in Kansas.
The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early June at LW Clapp Memorial Park when the playground, dog park and enhanced walking trails were complete. The ceremony included city officials as well as children snipping the ribbon that officially opened the reborn park. Currently, the inclusive playground is the first of its kind in Wichita; city officials are considering creating additional adaptive play spaces in other city parks.
According to WichitaMom, a parenting website, the new inclusive playground is “more than just fun. It’s a space where all kids can play side by side.”
The “Voxel Clouds” sculpture is a beacon for visitors to LW Clapp Memorial Park in Wichita, Kan. Created by Osman Akan, the 20-foot-tall work was inspired by the popular “Minecraft” game with elements of historical jungle gyms of past playgrounds. (Photo provided by Wichita, Kan.)
Reviving the riverfront: Providence’s bold greenway transformation
By DANIELLE LUND | The Municipal
What was once a forgotten industrial stretch of the Woonasquatucket River in Providence, R.I., is being reborn as a green, resilient and connected community space. With new bike paths, native plantings and innovative stormwater systems, Providence is transforming its riverfront into a model of environmental restoration and neighborhood revitalization.
Standing on the banks of the Woonasquatucket River in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood, it’s hard to imagine that this stretch of waterfront was once known more for its industrial grit than its scenic value. Now, with fresh landscaping, safer bike routes and innovative stormwater management systems taking shape, this corner of Rhode Island’s capital is set to become a showcase for environmental restoration, sustainable transportation and neighborhood revitalization.
Jessica Lance, from the city’s department of planning and development, has been involved since the very beginning of this project. “Back in 2016, the city received an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
area-wide grant to develop a vision plan for the corridor behind the Providence Place Mall into Olneyville. This area is one of the highest poverty areas in Rhode Island, and it’s home to a community that is mainly in the minority. So, we wanted to identify brownfield sites that could be revitalized in a way that would benefit both the environment and the people who live there.”
That vision plan, completed in 2018, didn’t just target cleanup; it also focused on how the neighborhood could reconnect to the river and how residents could have safer, greener transportation options as well.
“One of our main goals,” Lance explained, “was ensuring a high-quality transportation
ABOVE: This rendering shows the Kinsley kayak launch that was included in the Woonasquatucket River Greenway revitalization project. (Rendering provided by Providence, R.I.)
network between Olneyville and downtown Providence. That meant looking closely at the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, which the Watershed Council has been working to expand for decades, and figuring out how to fill in the missing links.”
The Greenway, a roughly 5-mile stretch that currently connects Johnston to Olneyville, has long been a recreational and environmental priority. By installing bike lanes, pedestrian paths and riverfront access points into one continuous route, the city hopes to encourage active transportation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and give residents new ways to engage with nature.
The 2018 plan became the foundation for tapping into Rhode Island’s Transportation Improvement Program funds, which kickstarted the design and engineering process in 2019. Engineers from McMahon Associates
and Bowman Consulting collaborated with the city, the Department of Public Works, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council to create a plan that balanced community needs with environmental goals.
In April 2024, construction began. One of the most visible changes is on Kinsley Avenue, a corridor that previously had one lane for travel in each direction. To make room for a shared-use path and improved landscaping, the city converted the roadway to a single eastbound lane from Dean Street, removing one lane of vehicular travel, but maintaining truck access for local businesses to receive necessary shipments.
“We wanted to preserve the lighting and existing bike path while also adding new features,” said Lance. “We’re reducing pavement by over 17,700 square feet, planting street trees and installing bioswales with native plants to manage stormwater. It’s about celebrating the river as a natural asset, not just an industrial backdrop.”
One of the project’s standout elements is its use of Silva Cell tree planting systems, which is a first for Providence. These underground frameworks give tree roots more room to grow while also storing and filtering stormwater. By integrating these systems into the streetscape, the project addresses two challenges at once: creating shade and greenery, while improving the water quality in the Woonasquatucket River.
“This isn’t just about beautification,” Lance noted. “It’s about long-term environmental health. We’re trying to mitigate flooding and stormwater issues, which are big concerns in this neighborhood, while also creating habitat for local flora and fauna.” The landscaping plan focuses on native plants, which require less maintenance, support pollinators and blend naturally into the riverfront setting.
While the environmental benefits are significant, the project’s recreational and social impacts are equally important. Once complete, the Greenway connection will make it possible to bike from Johnston, through Olneyville, into downtown Providence, linking to the city’s larger Great Streets Master Plan and the statewide bike path network.
“Part of the idea is to encourage people to get out of their cars,” said Lance. “This is about giving residents safer, more comfortable options for walking, biking and just being outdoors. It supports Rhode Island’s Act on
showcases
tures more walkable infrastructure. (Rendering provided by Providence,
The Woonasquatucket River flows approximately 15.8 miles and was designated an American Heritage River in 1998. (Photo provided by Providence, R.I.)
Climate goals and builds a sense of connection between neighborhoods.”
The city has worked hard to involve the public at every stage of this project. From open houses to one-on-one meetings with business owners, the planning team sought input on how to make the project work for everyone.
“Public reception has been mixed,” Lance admitted. “Many people are supportive, especially business owners who see the potential for increased foot traffic. But others feel the money should be spent elsewhere. That’s why continued outreach has been so important. We wanted to ensure we show the community that their feedback and concerns matter.”
This rendering
the plans for the Eagle Street and Kinsley Avenue, which fea-
R.I.)
During construction, the project has also served as an educational opportunity. The Watershed Council’s River Rangers program has brought community members on-site to learn about installation techniques, stormwater systems and urban forestry.
“It’s exciting to see people learning about these systems firsthand,” said Lance. “It builds local expertise and creates a sense of ownership over the space. When residents understand how and why something was built, they’re more likely to take care of it.”
The project is expected to wrap up in fall 2025, and the Watershed Council is already envisioning a celebratory block party to mark the occasion. By then, the new shared-use path, green infrastructure and landscaping will be fully in place, transforming a once-overlooked industrial corridor into a vibrant, accessible part of Providence’s riverfront.
For Lance, the work is about more than just meeting deadlines; it’s about setting a precedent. “This project shows what’s possible when we integrate environmental goals, transportation improvements and community engagement from the start,” she said. “We’re not just building infrastructure; we’re building relationships, healthier neighborhoods and a stronger connection to the environment.”
In a city with deep industrial roots, the Woonasquatucket River Greenway project represents a new kind of investment, one that values clean water, green space and the simple joy of a bike ride along the river. When the ribbon is cut this fall, it won’t just be the end of
One of the project’s standout elements is its use of Silva Cell tree planting systems. These underground frameworks give tree roots more room to grow while also storing and filtering stormwater.
(Photo provided by Providence, R.I.)
a construction project. It will be the beginning of a new chapter for Olneyville, the Woonasquatucket and all the communities that call its banks home.
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Follow the fun: Des Moines Park-N-Play program is a hit with residents
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Des Moines, Iowa’s, mobile recreational vehicle may not be an ice cream truck, but it has the same Pied Piper appeal. When the ParkN-Play van pulls up to a park or a schoolyard, families know that a good time will follow.
In an effort to provide equitable access to recreational programming throughout the city, the Park-N-Play mobile unit literally brings the park to the people. Designed over a two-year period and launched in March, the Park-N-Play program has proven to be a big hit with families.
“There is really something for everyone,” said Parks and Recreation supervisor Amarre Negussie.
Community engagement
According to Negussie, the city of Des Moines has over 76 parks; however, most of the programming is centered on the city’s signature facilities, leaving other parks out of the loop.
After analyzing the ParkServe data from the Trust of Public Land and speaking with local residents about their needs, the parks department opted to deploy a mobile rec vehicle that would travel to various sites and provide the kind of free, quality programming that the local park lacked. If there was no park within a 10-minute walk of a given area, the parks would partner with local schools to use their playgrounds. The van was purchased by the Friends of Des Moines Parks, and the equipment inside was paid for with a $25,000 On Common Ground Grant from the Trust for Public Land.
“We have everything you can think of in there,” Negussie said. “We theme out our
ABOVE: The Park-N-Play program sponsored by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation department brings smiles to every participant. This group of kids poses in front of the van that brings park programming to them in areas where the local park does not have these resources. (Photo provided by Des Moines, Iowa, Parks and Recreation)
weeks and stock the van with anything and everything the kids might need to get the most out of the event. We had a sports week, a water week, a science week and a superhero week where they made superhero masks and bracelets. We want to give them the chance to be as creative as possible, whether it is arts and crafts, board games or sporting equipment.”
The inaugural Park-N-Play spring session ran from March until early June, and although the newness of the program as well as inclement weather kept some families from coming out, Negussie said the
You never know who is going to be at a Park-N-Play event. Cubby Bear, the Iowa Cubs mascot, even appeared at one of the local Park-N-Play nights, taking pictures with attendees. (Photo provided by Des Moines, Iowa, Parks and Recreation)
department had a respectable turnout. Word caught on fast though and one month into the summer session, he said over 500 people were engaged and the numbers have continued to grow.
“Just this past Tuesday, we were at one location, and we noticed a group of families arrive from one of our other locations to take part. They said they had looked up the van’s schedule online and decided to ‘follow the fun,’ which is one of our mottoes,” Negussie said.
The Park-N-Play program may be kid centered, but the whole family is invited to take part in the games and activities. Negussie said it’s not uncommon for the kids to start playing and then 10 minutes later invite their parents to join in.
“Our goal is whole-family recreation and making sure that everyone has something to do,” he said.
Going forward
Negussie said that the parks and recreation department has been lucky to have a city council and city manager that have supported the program right from the start as well as the staff and volunteers who have worked to make it such a big success. However, he also knows that the program’s success will bring challenges going forward.
Community partners are already asking for the Park-N-Play program to be part of their events, and while the department would like to be at every event it can, it’s not easy to maintain the current schedule and accommodate additional requests. During the school year, the Park-N-Play program is held in the evenings, but during the summer,
From ladder ball and cornhole, to crafts games and even giant LEGO bricks, the Park-N-Play van has plenty of things to enjoy. In fact, some families have followed the bus from one location to the next in order to take part in the activities. (Photo provided by Des Moines, Iowa, Parks and Recreation)
there are multiple sessions and multiple locations that require set-up, tear down and travel.
“We only have one staff member in the van as well as a couple of volunteers on site, so unfortunately we have to say no due to our limitations,” Negussie said. “But the more successful a program is, the more challenges come along with it, and those kinds of challenges are good ones to have because it means you are doing something right. Who knows? Maybe in the future it will lead to a second van so that we can engage even more members of the community.”
Negussie said that his department looked at similar programs across the country when developing Park-N-Play, and he said it is a great start for other communities looking to create their own program. However, it is also vital to survey the needs of your constituency and listen to what they have to say.
“Often times, as professionals, we think we know what people want, but if you ask people how they feel about what is going on in their local parks, you’ll get a better feel for what they want. Once you know that, you can give it to them,” he said. “If people get exactly what they ask for, it really cuts down on the complaints and you end up with a much better outcome.”
Fisk finds joy connecting others with nature
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
According to Raleigh Realty, “Recognized as a suburb of Raleigh, many families are moving to Garner for its affordability, low cost of living, small-town charm, diversity, and prime real estate. The combination of location and affordability is unbeatable, so Garner is considered one of the best places to live in North Carolina.”
And there’s something else special about Garner, N.C.: Martha Fisk, who serves as the recreation program specialist for Garner Parks. She’s all about recreation and cultural resources, and in a town rich with opportunities for both, she shines. She always has. “I was and still am the science and nature kid in my family. I have always been curious about animals and their natural habitats, and I enjoyed exploring the outdoors, reading and participating in programs. We would also attend interpretive programs at
parks, museums and zoos while on family vacations.”
This is equally true of her own family now. “My husband, Michael, and I have two boys, ages 13 and 10. They are active in a variety of sports, but they also enjoy exploring the outdoors by canoe and on foot. We enjoy spending the day floating on a river, fishing and snorkeling, or hiking along a trail. Children are very observant and have excellent memories they make great exploring buddies.”
ABOVE: Fisk is in her element while out in the beautiful natural areas around Garner, N.C. (Photo provided by Martha Fisk)
Fisk has a heart for many other children, which is no surprise to anyone who knows her. “I enjoy working with children and being outdoors, so taking kids outside to explore nature is a joyful combination of both interests. I truly appreciate the opportunity to help children build a sense of wonder about the world around them. There is a beautiful quote by Rachel Carson, ‘If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.’ A lot of our programs also provide
opportunities for families to share their curiosity and learn together, which is a great skill to develop and nourish.”
As for what kinds of programs, Fisk replied, “We do offer outreach programs at sites within our county. This can include programs at science festivals, and events at schools and parks.” She continued, “Program fees do vary, depending on the length of the program. Many of our programs require pre-registration, and fees are typically under $10 per child. Summer camp, which is one weeklong, does have a higher cost. There is no grant funding available at this time to offset costs.”
But grant funding, or lack of it, doesn’t stop Fisk and others working with her from giving every child every chance to experience the same things she loved as a child, and as a mother with her own children.
She said, “At this time, many of our park projects are with scouting groups. We do coordinate several days throughout the year for trash pickup and invasive species removal. Children are eligible to sign up as volunteers for these projects, depending on their ages and what the project is; some can be younger, some are older.”
Fisk has put her love of all things outdoors and natural to the best kind of use. “I have been an informal science educator teaching children and adults about science and nature for 23 years.” It is no small thing to open eyes, hearts and minds to something never seen before. Fisk gets to experience her students’ wonder for the first time.
She continued, “I am excited to grow my skills as a naturalist on park grounds and look forward to working with our community through programs and events. I really do want our community to feel connected and find joy in our natural areas, which are a local treasure.”
Among the many local attractions that shouldn’t be missed are Lake Benson Park, White Deer Park Nature Center and more than 250 waterfalls in Brevard, some of which were used in the films “The Last of the Mohicans” and “The Hunger Games.”
And with much written about screen time, Fisk believes that “now more than ever, communities need access to nature and the outdoors, and they need trusted individuals who can be a guide for observing and finding answers for the things they encounter. Everyone has stories to share about the animals they come across, and this is a great way for us to connect with each other in the places we live.”
The best thing about the work Fisk does is that it’s out there for everyone. “If you would like to be more involved with informal learning at science centers and nature parks, volunteer your time for events. This is a great way to become familiar with many of the aspects of this type of job (planning activities and communicating with a variety of ages and abilities). You can obtain a variety of degrees in science, education or parks and recreation to enter this field, but hands-on experience with natural science programming will be the skill that can set you apart.”
Fisk added, “Many of our current volunteer opportunities are related to natural resource management invasive species removal and park cleanups. We also have opportunities to volunteer for educational activities such as Moth Night or First Friday Bird Walks.”
With so much experience in these areas, Fisk noted, “I am still very new in my role with the parks and nature branch of Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, but I am looking forward to expanding our nature program offerings in the future. We plan our program calendar six months to one year in advance. We plan additional activities when the time allows. I did not have the chance to
Martha Fisk serves as the recreation program specialist for Garner, N.C. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. In her role, Fisk shares her love of nature with others. (Photo provided by Martha Fisk)
work together with the previous person in this role, Allison Murphy, for very long but was able to observe some of the popular series she had coordinated over the years.” M
Fisk stands in front of Garner’s Nature Center, which is located in White Deer Park. The 2,500-square-foot LEED Gold Certified Nature Center offers education displays, including live and preserved animal specimens. (Photo provided by Martha Fisk)
Boise offers Youth Firesetting Intervention Program
By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Curiosity about fire is a natural part of childhood, but when that curiosity leads to fire setting behavior, it becomes a serious concern. Unfortunately, children under 18 account for nearly 50% of all arson arrests in the United States, which is why most larger fire departments have adopted programming and have specially trained personnel who can intervene before it’s too late.
Since the late 1990s, the Boise, Idaho, fire department has worked to prevent juvenile misuse of fire through its Youth Firesetting Intervention Program. The program is designed to educate and intervene with children who have misused fire with the goal of preventing further incidents as well as the injuries, deaths and destruction of property that can occur as a result.
According to Maura Hay, fire prevention education program manager for the Boise Fire Department, the best way to get a child the help that he or she needs is through early fire setting intervention.
“Children do not understand the reality and danger of fire,” she said. “Sadly, youth fire setting is underreported, and we do not know about all of the children who are misusing fire until an incident lands them in trouble.”
ABOVE: Children do not understand the reality and danger of fire, which is why Boise’s Youth Firesetting Intervention Program uses a screening tool to gain a deeper understanding of the young fire offender and his or her family. The tool helps determine the motivation behind whatever incident may have happened, and then the intervention is tailored accordingly. (Shutterstock.com)
An individualized program
Boise began its Youth Firesetting Intervention Program shortly after the North Ada County Fire and Rescue fire marshal learned about it at a fire conference in Oregon. The program was modeled after existing programs in several states and is updated as new information and best practices are identified.
Although the free program is open to any child from the age of 3 to 17 who has been involved in an incident of fire setting, Hay said most of her referrals come from Ada County Juvenile Services. It is part of the county’s diversion program and is an alternative to formal court proceedings following an incident of fire misuse. When a child is enrolled in the program, they can expect to spend 1-1/2 to 2 hours with a youth fire setting intervention specialist learning about fire safety in an individualized way.
“We use a screening tool to gain a deeper understanding of the child and family, which helps us determine the motivation behind the incident and tailor the education accordingly,” she said. “Some families may require a referral to other services in addition to fire safety education.
The program is typically completed in one day, but program staff also try to remain flexible in order to meet a specific child’s learning needs. Some children may require a second visit. Lesson plans are adjusted to the child’s mental age, which may not always correspond with their biological age.
“The program includes interactive activities, videos and, for older children, a homework assignment. Once all of the requirements are met, we issue the child a certificate of completion,” Hay said.
Evaluating outcomes
Once a child has completed the program, the Boise Fire Department follows up in 18 months to determine if the program’s lessons have been applied by the participant. They evaluate the program based on recidivism rates, and while the data suggests low incidents of recidivism at the childhood level, participants are not followed as they grow into adulthood.
“Early intervention is key,” Hay said, noting that said intervention begins at home with parents and the other adults in a child’s life modeling safe fire use and following all safety guidelines. “Children need to be appropriately supervised. Matches, lighters and other dangerous tools should be locked up. Above all, you must teach children that matches, lighters and so on are tools, not toys. Lead by example.”
Parents should also demonstrate good fire safety behavior by installing and maintaining smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and having a family home escape plan in the
Children under 18 account for nearly 50% of all arson arrests in the United States. Mitigating youth fire setting behavior is the goal of a successful intervention program in Boise, Idaho. (Shutterstock.com)
Demonstrating good fire safety protocols in and around the home are additional interventions to prevent juvenile arson, such as modeling safe fire use, following all safety guidelines and knowing how to use fire suppression techniques. (Shutterstock.com)
event of a fire. Children watch everything that the adults in their lives do and learn both appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
For communities looking to launch a similar program, Hay said to contact the state fire marshal’s office to find out if it has a program or resources that could help. Don’t be afraid to look at other programs around the country to develop ideas. Make a brochure highlighting the local program to juvenile services, law
enforcement, school counselors and other agencies to get the word out and remind them from time to time that the program exists.
“You can attend the National Fire Academy Training and turn to the Community Risk Reduction online forum for help,” she said. “There is no need to reinvent the wheel when there are experienced professionals who monitor the forum and are willing to share resources.”
Public art program puts Coldwater on the map
By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal
A city of just over 14,000 residents has proven that even small towns can make an outsized impact through public art.
Coldwater, Mich.’s, Economic Development Coordinator Erin Veysey attributed the success of a recent initiative to a winning combination of community engagement, strategic planning and a commitment to creativity.
“Our public art program is deeply connected to the success of our downtown revitalization efforts,” said Veysey. “It increases foot
traffic, enhances the downtown’s appeal for residents and visitors and attracts new businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s all about creating vibrant spaces and facilitating creative environments.”
The program began with a simple yet powerful concept: involve local students in creating public art. Veysey recalled how the initiative started with a sticky note from the
ABOVE: A tribute to the artist’s mother, “The Best One Ever” captures scenes from Michigan’s natural world. (Photo provided by Coldwater, Mich.)
mayor asking her to engage students from the local trade school. The result was a stunning 16-foot metal tree sculpture designed and built by high school welding students.
“The pride on their faces when they saw their work displayed in the heart of downtown was incredible,” said Veysey. “That was it for me. This project became my pride and joy.”
Coldwater, Mich.’s, Economic Development Coordinator, Erin Veysey
The sculpture, which stands in Four Corners Park, was just the beginning. The program has since expanded to include rotating sculptures, murals and commissioned pieces. Each year, new student-created sculptures are added to the downtown area, ensuring that the program remains dynamic and fresh. It’s a way to keep the community engaged and to give students a sense of ownership and pride in their work.
In addition to supporting student-led projects, the program has courted professional artists to create commissioned pieces. One standout mural, “The Best One Ever,” was painted by Courtney Clark and inspired by her late mother’s love of Coldwater’s lakes scene. The work, which features a serene lake scene with a blue heron, turtles and native vegetation, has become a beloved fixture in the community. In fact, Veysey herself has been drawn to it.
“It’s a piece that hits you in the feels,” she said. “It’s very sentimental and lifelike, and it resonates with so many people.”
Another mural, currently in progress, is being painted on the side of the Children’s Museum of Branch County by Grand Rapids-based artist Rhiannan Sibbald. The piece features native plants and animals, including ladybugs, hummingbirds and sunflowers, and is designed to brighten up the historic building.
“Rhiannon uses a fascinating method to lay out her murals,” said Veysey. “She starts with what looks like graffiti shapes, letters and symbols and then transforms it into a stunning mural. Watching the progress has been incredible.”
Veysey contended that the program’s success is not just about the art itself but also about its strategic placement and alignment with the city’s economic development goals.
“We were very intentional with how we displayed the art. For example, placing a wooden turtle sculpture outside the library where kids can climb on it, or situating murals in high-traffic areas to draw people in. It’s all about creating a sense of place and making downtown a destination.”
The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Events like Art After Hours, which features live artists, chalk art and
Welding students from the Branch Area Career Center created a 19-foot sculpture of a tree, titled “Branching Out.” (Photo provided by Coldwater, Mich.)
gallery shows, have drawn crowds and created a buzz around the program. A point of pride for Veysey is that she has been asked by the public to host more events like this because people enjoyed the experience so much.
She also highlighted the importance of partnerships in making the program a reality.
“There’s no way we could have done this without our sponsors and community partners,” she said. “From the tourism bureau to local businesses, everyone has played a role in bringing this vision to life. Building strong relationships with stakeholders is key to the program’s success.”
Looking ahead, Veysey has ambitious plans. She hopes to expand the number of sculptures and murals each year, depending on funding and grants. She also dreams of painting an entire street in front of the city’s old opera house, a project she has affectionately dubbed her “lofty goal.”
Veysey said public art programs like Coldwater’s don’t have to be complicated. In her words, “Start small, but think big. Align art with your economic development goals, engage the community, build strong partnerships and treat public art as a long-term placemaking and branding strategy. And most importantly, celebrate and promote your successes.”
Veysey prefers to place murals in high-traffic areas to capture attention. (Photo provided by Coldwater, Mich.)
Wenatchee ‘Megakittrick’ wins APWA award
By DENISE FEDOROW | The Municipal
The title of a project in the city of Wenatchee, Wash., started out as kind of a joke, according to city engineer Jake Lewing. He said “Megakittrick” was coined by local program operators because it consisted of three separate federally funded projects that were concurrent with each other, so when they tied them all together, “I stole that name and went with it,” he laughed.
The Megakittrick project started in 2007 with the McKittrick Street/North Wenatchee Signal segment. Wenatchee Street is also S.R. 285, which goes through Wenatchee. He said city officials identified the need for a signal to keep up with current development on that section of the road, as well as some pedestrian and median improvements. According to Lewing, there’s a ton of commercial development around that corridor.
City officials also wanted to put in landscaping and buffers.
The second segment was the North Wenatchee Avenue Pedestrian and Median Improvements project, in which sidewalks, added architectural lighting, medians with U-turn pockets, landscaping and artwork were all part of the city’s master plan to make it a more complete street and to deal with the increased collision history.
ABOVE: The McKittrick N. Wenatchee Intersection was the first segment of “MegaKittrick” in Wenatchee, Wash.’s, APWA Project of the Year. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
The third segment, the McKittrick StreetNorth Columbia Street segment, extended McKittrick Street and began preliminary construction for a future railway underpass on McKittrick Street, under the BSNF railroad tracks. Lewing explained that at one point a wildfire wound up burning nearby, and embers from the foothills traveled into the industrial area, burning down the warehouses. So, the city acquired the properties with the idea of redeveloping the former industrial area into a commercial area. The McKittrick Street extension will extend across the BSNF railroad tracks.
The improvements made in the McKittrick and North Wenatchee corridor included architectural lighting and artistic banners. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
Lewing said Wenatchee is a beautiful place, with the Columbia River flowing through town. The Wenatchee River flows into the Columbia. The city is surrounded by the Cascade Mountains and has been dubbed the Apple Capital of the World because it plays a critical role in Washington state’s fruit industry. There’s also an 11-mile trail that circles the river.
“The waterfront is the jewel of our community, but to get there you have to walk across the railroad tracks. The McKittrick Street extension will create a ‘Signature Street’ to provide better, safer access for residents across the BSNF railroad tracks and state route to the waterfront,” he said.
Originally, the three segments went through separate design and different grant applications. Most received federal funding. The McKittrick Street-North Columbia Street extension was a combination of safety and economic development. The city acquired those properties in the industrial area that were destroyed by wildfires, and it acquired right of ways to develop a mixed-use commercial and residential area.
Lewing said the city was selling the remainder of the properties, with the purchase prices going to fund the improvements. In the McKittrick Street extension by the old industrial park it built the new Columbia Street. Some of the parcels have been purchased for commercial development but are still in progress. Lewing said the McKittrick Street-North Wenatchee
The “Megakittrick” Project in Wenatchee, Wash., aimed to improve safety, including the pedestrian and median improvements. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
signal segment and the median improvement segment began in the conceptual phase in 2007. The design and environmental study took a while, until 2018. The project went to bid in the winter of 2021. Construction on all three segments began in 2022, and they were completed in 2023.
Through a state process they were able to tie all three projects formally into one project.
“Because they were overlapping and each had a need for utility relocations, it made it more efficient. It had less of an impact on stakeholders by rolling it into one,” he said.
J.K. Earthworks, a local family-owned business, was awarded the contract. Lewing said the total cost of the project, including right of ways and design, is $10.8 million, with $6.8 million of that amount being the cost of construction.
When asked about feedback from the community, he said, “When you come into town on the north end, you’re hit with a sea of billboards, but as you continue and get into this section, you see the artwork and the architectural lighting, the landscaping and trees. It’s a much more pleasant area to drive or walk through.”
He said there were a couple of businesses, a restaurant, furniture store and packing facility, in particular, that had to deal with construction throughout the project. “But I think they see now it’s a big enhancement to have the signal where they can turn left in and out of their businesses. It has greatly enhanced
access to their businesses and the landscaping and softer elements are more pleasant for foot traffic.”
More improvements are still to come in the area to be redeveloped.
“There will be a $130 million project to further extend the street and build an underpass under the railroad tracks to create a safer route to the waterfront. Currently, the access is a two-lane road with no sidewalks that cross the tracks at a grade crossing. There will also be a dedicated bike lane.”
He said 20 to 25 trains a week cross those tracks. “You’ll never have to stop for a train again.”
The underpass project is expected to break ground next year and be completed in 2027.
American Public Works Award
Lewing said the city applied for the APWA Project of the Year Award because of the uniqueness of Megakittrick.
“The project was pretty complex from the get-go,” he said.
Separate consultants, who worked on the designs, all partnered together, along with the contractor, to combine the three segments into one project. Lewing said it was rare how “everybody stepped up and partnered. The local contractor was very concerned about the community. We felt very good about the success of the project. Everyone is proud of not only the work, but how they executed overcoming challenges.”
Challenges were part of the award application. One was access to the businesses during construction. One business is a warehouse that sells shipping trays for fruit packing and “during certain times they send out enormous amounts of trucks, so it was critical for them to have access.” The resolution was the construction management team and the contractor working together to maintain at least one driveway access for each business all of the time.
Another big challenge was utilities. Lewing said public works had to install utilities 30 feet deep through a narrow alley. The contractor worked with the utility companies to expedite the work so the businesses could continue to operate the whole time.
They also encountered long lead times for the signal and illumination components, which led to a winter suspension. According to the application documents, they devised a creative solution to leave the intersection in a state that maintained public safety and maximized the work that could be done before they received the signal components. Temporary lighting was installed, utilizing five of the existing luminaries on a new foundation. A custom adapter plate was designed and fabricated to allow the luminaries to be mounted on existing poles. Temporary striping and signage were also installed to promote safety and allow use of the intersection in the interim.
Other challenges and adverse conditions included the timing of the project right after the pandemic.
“We saw a lot of cost escalations and procurement issues and federal standards changes. It was very complex, with a lot of fluid requirements we had to navigate, which again spoke to the partnerships of everyone involved,” Lewing said.
The project’s award documents stated that the rapid development of Buy American, Build American Infrastructure Law came into effect just as the project was going out for bid in 2022. Everyone involved was “tasked with swiftly navigating these new requirements to ensure compliance a complex process given the tight timelines and continuously evolving guidance.”
They also identified contaminated soils, including lead and arsenic, due to the site’s commercial and industrial past and its nearness to the railroad. The contractor elected to take additional steps and do more testing, which reduced the area of contamination when the results came back. Lewing said it saved the city around $300,000.
“You don’t see that. He took it upon himself to save money for everyone, even though it took more time for him because he knew it was right for the project,” Lewing said.
The teams also had to deal with unexpected complications from historic infrastructure. There was a 36-inch old concrete irrigation pipe running underneath State Rd 285/North Wenatchee Ave., and existing concrete roadway slab dating back to original construction. The depth and location of both were unknown when that segment started. This added significant risk to the utility trenching and stormwater infrastructure work.
Also, as work began on the east leg of McKittrick Street and Columbia Lane, they encountered a domestic garbage dumping ground with concrete and brick rubble and multiple abandoned, unmarked drywells. The document stated the amount of excavation needed was challenging enough, and they had the additional task of removing and safely disposing of hazardous materials.
Some of the above challenges helped show the project’s commitment to environmental protection. “By providing safer, more accessible
The Megakittrick Project included making a heavily traveled intersection safer by adding widened sidewalks, lighting and other enhancements. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
The McKittrick and North Wenatchee Intersection was part of the Megakittrick project. The bare lots shown are for future commercial improvements. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use, the infrastructure encourages residents and visitors to adopt greener modes of transportation,” Wenatchee’s award application read. “Improved access to walking, biking and public transit options also reduce reliance on automobiles, fostering a shift towards more sustainable and energy efficient transportation, which is key in mitigating the impact of climate change. This thoughtful approach not only meets the needs of the present but also builds a foundation for a more sustainable and resilient future.”
Community relations and communication were also components that led to Wenatchee earning the award. The contractors reduced disruptions to businesses and allowed access, plus the majority of work done on North Wenatchee took place during nighttime hours, reducing the impact on businesses and local traffic.
The contractor and construction management team placed a high priority on maintaining strong communication with local businesses and the community. They visited the businesses on a weekly basis. The city also posted regular social media updates and conducted numerous interviews to share information about the project.
The project enhanced sense of place by the installation of banners by local artist Heather Dapper, who drew inspiration from the rivers,
mountains and wildlife the coyote and salmon the region’s rich history and culture for her artwork.
Kurt Davis, owner of J.K. Earthworks, was quoted in the documentation, stating, “McKittrick was a large and complex project, but it was also one of the most well-orchestrated projects I have ever seen from the owner’s side. I cannot speak highly enough about the teamwork and willingness we encountered with the city staff and the engineers. Kudos to all!”
Lewing said APWA has different categories of awards, and Wenatchee specifically won the $5 million to $15 million Transportation Project of the Year Award, which was given out at the 2024 spring conference.
Concerning applying for the award, he said, “A lot of municipalities are doing great projects, and too many public agencies are filled with employees with an overwhelming amount of work on their plates, so it’s easy to just get through and move onto the next project.”
He noted, “But it’s good to take a step back and recognize successes and let the public that you represent know and allow them the opportunity to recognize the hard work of everyone involved.”
Lewing added that it was very beneficial to have “lessons learned meeting,” which a great exercise to see what went well, what didn’t and what they could take from it moving forward. That’s when they decided the complexity, uniqueness and teamwork were worth highlighting.
Construction occurs on the Megakittrick Project in Wenatchee. The city combined three smaller projects into one “mega” project, which won it the APWA Project of the Year Award. There are still more improvements to be made: The city plans to build an underpass under the BSNF railroad tracks. (Photo provided by Wenatchee, Wash.)
“It’s also an opportunity to showcase everyone’s efforts a bit more and to educate the public on the complexities of building infrastructure next to a road that sees over 30,000 cars a day,” he added. M
• The 2001, 2001M, and 2001MB barricades are MASH Tested as a Longitudinal Channelizing Device (LCD).
• Accessorize with Lights and Fence Panels.
• Transform unstable ground into stable and weatherproof surfaces for easy transport and staging of heavy equipment.
• Protect Turf & Grass During Events and Projects.
• Create Accessible Walkways for Pedestrians or Crew.
• Portable, High-Performance, interlocking water filled Barrier sections.
• MASH TL-2 Tested for Redirective Applications.
Excess vegetative waste leads to free mulch program
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON } The Municipal
Residents of Charlottesville, Va., are able to take advantage of a free mulch program offered by the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority. The program started as a way for residents to reuse the tons of vegetation collected each year, which benefited residents and the Solid Waste Authority by diverting organic waste from the landfill and then turning it into something useful.
The program started with residents paying for the mulch but has evolved into a completely free program.
“Efforts to divert organic waste from the landfill extend back to times when we operated a landfill on our site,” Phillip McKalips, Rivanna Solid Waste Authority solid waste director, explained. “It continued through the period when we transitioned to transfer station operations and were no longer landfilling at our site.
“For many years we charged customers $30 a ton to buy our ground mulch. We received about 2,000 to 2,500 tons of vegetation each year, and we were able to sell all or most of it. About six years ago, we started noticing that we were receiving more vegetation, and we were having trouble getting rid of the ground material — so we started
ABOVE: Rivanna Solid Waste Authority likes to make sure there is plenty of free mulch available for the busy spring and summer seasons. The mulch is not dyed. In fiscal year 2025, over 700 tons of ground mulch was given away. (Photo provided by the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority)
having short periods of free mulch giveaways. Still, the incoming amount of vegetation grew, and soon we were conducting more giveaways than we had days that we were selling mulch. At that point, we just went free full time.”
Not having an active landfill at the site and giving away the mulch helped cut down on transportation costs to the landfill.
Turning the vegetative waste into mulch is outsourced. A contractor visits the waste authority up to three times a year in order to perform the service. When the contractor is not on site, the vegetative waste is stored on the property until the next visit.
The waste is ground up into mulch and is either single-ground or double-ground. The double-ground mulch is what is given away
to the public. Each grinding event takes approximately two months to complete, and the contractor visits around three times per year.
“We generally have double-ground mulch on hand for several months,” McKalips shared. “We aim to have a supply during the high demand spring season. Our mulch isn’t dyed, which can be an enticer or deterrent depending on the customer’s preferences.”
Single-ground mulch is much larger, up to 12 inches in size. The double-ground mulch is much smaller, similar to the size purchased at a garden center and is easier to spread.
Double-ground mulch is available on a first-come, first-served basis. When it has been restocked and is available, a press release goes out to customers and the community to let them know. The Solid Waste Authority website and social media pages are also updated regularly when mulch becomes available. As a general rule, the Solid Waste Authority tries to have mulch supplies restocked and available as much as possible during the busy spring and summer months.
When customers arrive, they are directed onto the scales so a base weight can be taken, and then they directed to the mulch area. If a customer has a pickup or trailer, there is equipment on-site to help load the mulch. If the customer only wants to fill a few trash cans or bags, they are encouraged to bring their own shovels and tools to load the mulch into the containers.
Once the mulch is loaded, the vehicle is directed to drive back across the scales in order to keep track of how much mulch is being given away.
“In fiscal year 2025, we received 9,604.06 tons of vegetative waste,” McKalips said. “In the same year, we gave away 729.353 tons of ground mulch. So, the demand for mulch still does not keep up with our supply of incoming vegetative waste.” Excess singleground mulch is transferred off-site.
Because the Solid Waste Authority takes in more vegetative waste than can be given away in mulch, officials in Charlottesville have had to create a balance between how much vegetative waste is stored, how much double-ground mulch is available and the excess that is transported off-site. Community support for the program ensures that the efforts will continue.
When the mulch program first began with the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority in Charlottesville, Va., vegetative waste would be turned into mulch and sold for $30 a ton. As more and more vegetative waste began to come in, there began to be giveaways until it became a totally free program. (Photo provided by the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority)
An outside company comes three times a year to turn the vegetative waste into mulch. When it is not being ground, the waste is stored at the facility. The double-ground mulch is given away to the community and the single-ground mulch, which is much larger, is transported off-site. Once mulch is available, the community is able to pick it up on a firstcome, first-served basis. There are even equipment to help load up trucks or trailers with the mulch. (Photo provided by the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority)
Johnson City reimagined: The story of Walnut Street’s revitalization
By DANIELLE
In June, Johnson City, Tenn., marked a major milestone with the near-completion of the Walnut Street revitalization project, a $33-million-effort that has reshaped one of Johnson City’s key corridors.
Walnut Street runs from East Tennessee State University into the heart of downtown. It has always been an important connector, but for years struggled to reach its full potential. Now, after more than a decade of planning and construction, the corridor is being reborn as a lively, pedestrian-friendly area that weaves together the city’s history and its vision for modern urban living.
For much of its past, Walnut Street was tied closely to Johnson City’s industrial identity. Over time, as the city’s needs shifted, so did the corridor’s future. Today, the area is embracing new life with more housing, small businesses and walkable spaces, all of which are part of a larger movement to create neighborhoods built around community and accessibility.
“Historically, this corridor was very industrialized,” explained Wallace McCulloch, city engineer for Johnson City and a neighborhood resident. “We had foundries, tobacco warehouses and factories, but now those uses have diminished. The neighborhood behind the corridor is one of the city’s largest, and people there wanted to see better connections such as safer streets, more inviting spaces and new opportunities for living and working.”
Assistant City Engineer Jeff Harmon echoed those sentiments.
“The industrial past left a legacy of outdated infrastructure, flooding issues and a road layout that wasn’t friendly to pedestrians or cyclists. Our goal was to change that dynamic completely.”
At the heart of the project is a redesigned roadway that balances the needs of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. The existing street, which had been a wide, traffic-heavy road, was narrowed to create space for separated bike lanes protected by landscaped medians. Sidewalks on both sides were widened, encouraging foot traffic and making the area safer and more comfortable for all.
One notable feature is the implementation of raised intersections, which are subtle bumps in the road that slow vehicle speeds and enhance pedestrian crossings. These traffic-calming measures reflect a careful design approach focused on safety without sacrificing traffic flow.
“We really emphasized walkability and bikeability,” said Harmon. “On the very first day the new bike lane was paved, we saw all kinds of riders, from commuters to kids. People are excited and eager to engage with the space, even before the project is fully finished.”
The city also upgraded critical infrastructure underneath the street. Old water and sewer lines were replaced, and storm drains improved to address frequent flooding and landslide areas. “We had to keep everything operational while replacing these systems, which was a huge challenge,” McCulloch noted. “But it was necessary to ensure the corridor’s long-term resilience.”
The revitalization was not just about infrastructure; it’s fueling a renaissance for local businesses and encouraging new investment. Neighborhood staples like Shamrock, a combination tobacco shop,
LUND | The Municipal
Pictured is the before and after of 401 Ashe St. In 2022, Johnson City acquired the old Johnson City Postal Savings Bank and Post Office building and three related parcels at 401 Ashe St. through a deed transfer from Washington County. (Photos provided by Johnson City, Tenn.)
sandwich counter and ice cream parlor, have gained increased visibility and foot traffic thanks to the more inviting streetscape.
The city is excited about the positive feedback received from local businesses. Harmon noted that the owner of Shamrock said the project has already helped to put the store back on the map, as more people are walking by and stopping in. Newer businesses like Groovy Grovers, a healthy eatery, attribute their success to the project as well, noting that the improvements to Walnut Street created the walkability and aesthetics that attract people to the area and make it possible for them to open there. Ember, another local restaurant, opened just prior to the redevelopment and also witnessed a surge in interest. Additionally, developers are eyeing the corridor for future residential and mixed-use projects, including plans for a hotel and new apartments.
“This corridor is becoming a destination,” said Harmon. “We’re already seeing inquiries from developers who want to build condos, apartments, restaurants and breweries. Over the next five years, we expect steady growth.”
A particularly symbolic success story is the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. An old mill along Walnut Street, once part of the city’s industrial fabric, has been transformed into the contractor’s main office. Meanwhile, a former post office was refurbished into a business incubator with the help of a $5 million federal grant, offering space and resources to new startups.
Despite the many benefits, the project wasn’t without its challenges. Construction brought noise, dirt and disruptions that tested the patience of residents and businesses alike. McCulloch credits local stakeholders for their understanding and support.
“Utility coordination was a massive hurdle,” he said. “We had to carefully schedule water, sewer and power line replacements to minimize impact, but some businesses were affected. Still, the community was incredibly patient, and now the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.”
Landscaping, led by city staff member Pat Walding, has been a key component in giving the corridor a welcoming feel. “The greenery really makes the area pop,” said McCulloch. “It brings pride to the neighborhood.”
The city also upgraded the area’s lighting with antique-style lamp posts, enhancing safety and ambiance while maintaining the corridor’s historic charm. Future plans include the potential addition of cameras or Wi-Fi to support evening events.
The corridor is poised to serve as a critical hub for Johnson City’s popular festivals and cultural events, including the Blue Plum and Umoja festivals. Attendees can park in the new corridor and walk easily to downtown activities, further integrating Walnut Street into the city’s social fabric.
Local coffee shops like Fearless and Groovy Grovers have noticed an uptick in visitors, including many from out of state, as the corridor attracts more attention. “Johnson City residents love their local eateries,” said Harmon. “We’re actually seeing a push for more restaurants, about 20% more to meet growing demand.”
Though Walnut Street’s revitalization is nearly complete, city officials said the project has offered valuable lessons. “We learned the importance of detailed coordination, especially with utility partners,” said McCulloch. “This will help us with future projects.”
One recent challenge involved coordinating work on University Boulevard, which intersected with the Walnut Street project and also affected local businesses. “Those experiences have made us better planners,” Harmon added.
The revitalization project included plenty of landscaping to create a welcoming vibe. Pictured is the intersection of Walnut and Buffalo. (Photo provided by Johnson City, Tenn.)
LEFT: Walkability and suitability for biking were a major component of Johnson City, Tenn.’s, $33-million Walnut Street revitalization project. (Photo provided by Johnson City, Tenn.)
With Johnson City experiencing record economic growth and increased interest from developers and residents, city leaders are optimistic about the future.
“We’ve laid a strong foundation,” McCulloch said. “Not just physically, but in the community’s confidence. Walnut Street is an example of what’s possible when a city invests in its people and places.”
Before the revitalization, Walnut and Buffalo streets offered a more sterile look. (Photo provided by Johnson City, Tenn.)
Keys to Community is a win-win for Ontario, Calif., residents and community
By KATIE GRAHAM | The Municipal
In 2023, a resident satisfaction survey in Ontario, Calif., revealed the Top 5 most serious issues perceived by residents, with the No. 1 issue being homelessness. It also listed the lowest three services ranked by satisfaction, with the those being addressing homelessness, enforcing city codes to keep neighborhoods safe and clean, and retaining and attracting local businesses.
Dan Bell, executive director of communications and community relations for the city, said, “The younger generation wants to stay and invest in this city. We want to help them do that.”
The city council decided to start a program called Keys to Community to address residents’ desire to see homelessness addressed and for the city to have clean and safe neighborhoods. That program included three ways for home buyers to
get aid: through the First-time Homebuyer Program, a Housing Rehabilitation Loan and an Exterior Beautification Grant. The basis for those applying for the programs is that applicants must either own a home within Ontario city limits or plan to own a home there, and to stay.
The First-time Homebuyer Program provides financial assistance in the form of a 30-year-deferred loan of up to $120,000, as long as the applicant offers a down
ABOVE: Trees line Euclid Avenue in Ontario, Calif. The city’s younger generation has voiced its desire to continue living within the community. (The Desert Photo/Shutterstock.com)
payment and pays closing costs. They must also complete an eight-hour-long U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development course, which familiarizes them with the process of buying a home with the help of HUD-certified counselors and through HUD-approved agencies. Those approving the loans give priority to people who live and work in Ontario or who have previously lived in Ontario.
The Housing Rehabilitation Loan covers up to $30,000 in housing repair costs for homebuyers whose annual household income is below the income limits
established for the program. People looking to buy a home who are approved for the FTHP loan can apply for this loan, in addition to people who already own a home. The home must be single-family and occupied by the owner, so individuals who are renting or leasing are not eligible to apply.
The Exterior Beautification Grant is for residents who desire to spruce up the outside of their homes, providing them with up to $10,000 in grant money. This, too, requires the homeowners to have an annual household income below the income limits and for the structure to be a single-family, owner-occupied home.
Ontario’s website has a space where residents can submit an interest form. The form is not an official application, but rather a way to start the process of talking with someone in the city office. Applicants are required to submit their name, contact information, programs they’re interested in, household information and resident status. The Housing Services office will then reach out and ask them to fill out an application.
Keys to the Community is still in its pilot stage, as no loans or grants have been given out yet. “We have had 400 people submit forms,” Bell said, “which shows that the program is already very popular.”
The funds are being allocated on a firstcome, first-served basis to applicants who meet the guidelines. She said, “We have notified the first 50 who met priority categories and connected them with the lenders. We’re notifying the other individuals that they will remain on the list and will be contacted if we have additional funds.” Program staff expect to be able to fund 12 to 15 people in the pilot period with the $1.8 million they have to spend this fiscal year.
Lenders who wish to become approved for the FTHB program need to review and sign a Participating Lender Agreement and submit a valid business license and proof of licensure under the National Mortgage Licensing System.
Keys to Community is funded through Measure Q, which was voted on and approved in 2022. This measure increased the local sales tax from 7.75% to 8.75%.
The Ontario city website states that one of the local programs potentially funded from the extra tax money could include $15 million toward homelessness and mental health; and it may support individuals and
Like many communities around the country, housing is a top priority for the city of Ontario, Calif. The Keys to Community program is working to address residents’ desire that homelessness be addressed and that the city’s neighborhoods become cleaner and safer. (Photo provided by Ontario, Calif.)
Community members embrace music during a summer concert at Ontario Town Square. The public space includes lawn areas for spectator seating, a children’s tot lot, a palm court area, a rose garden and conservation landscaping. (Photo provided by Ontario, Calif.)
families experiencing homelessness and mental health illness with additional shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing featuring wraparound services.
The need for affordable housing is dire throughout the country, especially in
California. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office website, prices for mid-tier homes are more than twice as expensive as the typical mid-tier U.S. home. Keys to Community aims to address that need and the desire for Ontario, Calif. residents to commit to staying local.
things you must know BEFORE buying a STREET SWEEPER
JULY
Oct. 1 & 2 IRWA Fall Conference
Best Western University Inn, Moscow, Idaho
https://idahoruralwater.com/
Oct. 1 & 2 Utah League of Cities & Towns 2025 Annual Convention
Salt Lake City, Utah
https://www.ulct.org/annualconvention/
Oct. 1-4 Municipal Leadership Summit
Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, Pa.
https://www.pml.org/ event/2025-municipalleadership-summit/
Oct. 2-4 League of Oregon Cities 100th Annual Conference
Portland Marriott Waterfront, Portland, Ore.
https://www.orcities. org/training-events/ conferences/98th-annualconference
Oct. 6-8 Offshore Windpower 2025 Boston, Mass.
https://cleanpower.org/events/
Oct. 6-9 Fire Department
Training Network Fire Combat Indianapolis, Ind.
https://fdtraining.com/training/ courses#Camp
Oct. 7 & 8 Vermont League of Cities & Towns Town Fair 2025
DoubleTree by Hilton, Burlington, Vt.
https://www.vlct.org/town-fair
Oct. 8-9 AWC’s Member Expo
Campbell’s Resort, Chelan, Wash.
https://wacities.org/eventseducation/conferences
Oct. 8-10 League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, Calif.
https://www.calcities.org
Oct. 8-12 Montana Fire Service Convention
Copper King, Butte, Mont.
https://montanafirechiefs.com/ fireserviceconvention/
Oct. 9 California Cybersecurity Education Summit 2025
Sacramento, Calif.
https://events.govtech.com/ California-CybersecurityEducation-Summit.html
Oct. 9-11 League of Kansas Municipalities Annual Conference
Overland Park, Kan.
https://www.lkm.org/page/ AnnualConference
Oct. 12-14 Virginia Municipal League Mayors Institute & Annual Conference
Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Roanoke, Va. www.vml.org
Oct. 15 & 16 Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Chicago, Ill.
https://paperplasticsna. recyclingtodayevents.com/
Oct 15-17 Montana League of Cities & Towns 94th Annual Conference Billings, Mont. https://mtleague.org/events
Oct. 20-22 Fire Department Training Network Live-Fire Training Camp Indianapolis, Ind. https://fdtraining.com/training/ courses#Camp
Oct. 18-21 IACP 2025 Conference Denver, Colo. https://www.theiacpconference. org/
Oct. 20-24 NAEMT Annual Conference Indianapolis, Ind. https://www.naemt.org/events/ annual-meeting
Oct. 21 West Virginia Cybersecurity Education Summit 2025 Charleston, W.Va. https://events.govtech. com/West-Virginia-DigitalGovernment-Summit.html
Oct. 21-24 TFCA Fall Conference Kingsport, Tenn. https://www.tnfirechiefs.com/ conferences
Oct. 23 New York
Cybersecurity Education Summit 2025
New York City, N.Y. https://events.govtech. com/West-Virginia-DigitalGovernment-Summit.html
Oct. 23 NH Drinking Water Expo & Trade Show Grappone Center, Concord, N.H. https://nhwwa.org/nhdrinking-water-expo-tradeshow/
Oct. 25-29 ICMA Annual Conference
Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla. https://lgr.icma.org/
Oct. 27-29 ACP Recharge: Energy Storage Summit Austin, Texas https://cleanpower.org/events/
Oct. 27-29 Energy Storage Summit 2025 Austin, Texas https://cleanpower.org/events/
Oct. 28 & 29 IRWA Northern Conference Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Rockford, Ill. https://www.ilrwa.org/
Oct. 29-31 Performance, Modeling & Assessment Conference 2025 Austin, Texas
https://cleanpower.org/events/
Smart water management transforms Sandy, Ore., operations and cuts water loss by over 30%
Sandy, Ore., may be a small city with just 4,200 water service connections, but it faces the same challenges as much larger municipalities: aging infrastructure, limited staffing and the need to minimize costly water loss. With only 10 staff members, including just two field technicians, finding efficiencies and reducing water loss is top of mind.
Smart metering infrastructure
Joe Johanesen, water supervisor for the city, knows that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. To address this, the city upgraded to Mueller Solid State Registers (SSR) with a complete AMI network with five collectors and six repeaters.
Johanesen said, “Prior to installing the AMI system, meter reading was a very manual process, costing the city $3,000 a month for a meter reader to read half the service area. The AMI installation has saved the city money, which has been used to help absorb network and maintenance costs.”
The system provides daily meter reads versus monthly and allows remote readings
in hard-to-access areas. The city can also set water-use limits for high-usage connections.
In 2024, the city launched a smart city initiative. Building on the success of its AMI program, the city started a new project to quantify water loss, identify and repair leaks, and optimize pressure management. This systematic approach would allow the city to target critical water loss areas and quantify the results and savings.
Initial assessment and monitoring deployment
By isolating one of its pressure zones, the city used a combination of the insertion meters in the new Singer® PRVs and the i2O® pressure loggers to determine the volume of water
By Malay Patel, Senior Manager | Capital Projects for Mueller Water Products
Lowering a Singer valve. (Photos provided by Mueller Water Products)
Installing AMI
Installing EchoShore-DX node on hydrant to monitor for leaks.
going into the zone, less the consumption measured from the AMI meters and found approximately 33% water loss in this pressure zone. By adding the EchoShore®-DX fixed leak monitoring technology, the city could locate a leak of 7 gallons per minute amounting to an average water loss of 15% in that district metered area (DMA). The technology incorporates the use of acoustic monitors, which are installed in fire hydrant caps throughout the system. The sensors then record data, listening for sounds of potential leaks. That data is then uploaded to the Sentryx™ Water Intelligence platform, a cloud-based program where it can be analyzed by utility staff to identify points of interest. The sensors can identify acoustical noises emitted by leaks before they become detectable by conventional methods.
Targeted Leak Detection and System Repairs
With this baseline established, Echologics® installed more sensors to identify water loss across the neighborhood. Johanesen said, “The sensor nodes are super simple to install and deploy. The technology identifies the exact leak location, making excavation and repair much easier and less costly.”
The quick repair of the 7.85 gallon per minute leak saved over 4,000,000 gallons of water annually from seeping into the ground, amounting to roughly $33,000 saved annually in unbilled water.
EchoShore-DX also has a history tracker component, which uses an algorithm to automatically check for a correlation of leaks at specific locations that have a leak history. “Whether it’s a hole in a copper or a poly line, or a crack in a water main that might not be surfacing, that’s really what we’re looking for the unknowns, such as a bell joint leaking a little bit off a water main,” commented Johanesen.
Advanced Pressure Optimization
In addition to leak monitoring, the city identified a critical pressure monitoring zone Zone 4 and installed five i2O® pressure loggers to help track pressure reduction efforts at various elevations throughout the DMA. i2O®’s dedicated patent-protected pilot valve and system
control algorithms are designed to optimize network pressure without triggering burst-causing transients to the network.
The city also installed two pressure control valves with built-in insertion meters from Singer. The 6-inch and 10-inch S106-PG Single Rolling Diaphragm Valves feed the pressure zone from two entries. They work together to control the pressure and offer the redundancy of being able to adjust the pressure levels from both sites or remotely.
“Having the EchoShore out there to listen and having the pressure control to lower the pressure in the zone is very beneficial,” Johanesen added. “You can still have enough pressure overnight and relieve the pressure in the system, lessening the burden on the pipes. Or, during those low-demand periods, even if there are active leaks, you can still keep the pressure low to lessen the loss.”
i2O® pressure loggers and advanced pilot valves reduced water loss by another 11 gallons per minute. Johanesen estimates that water loss has reduced from about 22% down to about 18% to 19% just from the one DMA being addressed.
Streamlined operations through data intelligence
The new technology has streamlined daily operations. Of the approximately 20 daily meter alerts, half are now immediately eliminated because staff understand the flow patterns. One staff member reviews alerts for points of interest, saving time and resources.
“Being able to use the technology to troubleshoot a lot of this stuff saves time driving around and going into people’s yards to investigate,” said Johanesen. “I think we proved it to ourselves and our director that these are legitimate and good, working products. We can now start including more technology into the budget so we can roll out another pressure zone.”
Through integrated water management technologies, Sandy has achieved remarkable results: significant water loss reduction, streamlined operations and substantial cost savings creating a compelling blueprint for other small utilities.
For more information, visit www.muellerwaterproducts.com
Setting up the Singer valve.
NAFA Announces Winners of 2025 Green Fleet Awards
EDISON, N.J. NAFA Fleet Management Association, the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, announced the winners of its 2025 Green Fleet Awards. This prestigious recognition celebrates fleets that have significant operational initiatives that promote environmental sustainability.
“We are immensely proud of the strides our winners have made in enhancing fleet sustainability through innovative programs and professional dedication,” said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA. “These awards honor the best and brightest in our dynamic industry for their forward-thinking green initiatives, and exemplify how NAFA and its members are creating efficient, sustainable, and safe fleets every day.”
This year’s top honor, the No. 1 Green Fleet of 2025, was awarded to the Denver International Airport, reflecting its outstanding efforts in reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability within its fleet operations.
Other notable 2025 Green Fleet Award winners include:
• Rookie of the Year: Denver Water in Colorado
• Best Special Project: PITT OHIO
• Best Electric Vehicle Policies: City of Richmond, Va.
• Best Take-Home Vehicle Charging Program: City of Durham, N.C.
Each winner has demonstrated exceptional innovation and leadership in their respective categories, enhancing their fleet operations while prioritizing environmental stewardship.
Denver International Airport earned this year’s top prize for a combination of efforts designed to improve a variety of critical operations at the nation’s second largest airport. Judges highlighted the airport’s use of alternative fuels and vehicles, efficient use and management of fueling and recharging facilities, and a commitment to workforce development programs within the community it serves.
The award winners were unveiled at the 2025 Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo in Winston-Salem, N.C., where industry professionals gathered to discuss trends, technologies and practices shaping sustainable fleet management.
For more information on the Green Fleet Awards and the full list of this year’s winners, please visit https://www.nafa.org/awards/green-fleet-awards/ green-fleet-awards-2025/.
News releases regarding personnel changes, other non-productrelated company changes, association news and awards are printed as space allows. Priority will be given to advertisers and affiliates. Releases not printed in the magazine can be found online at www.themunicipal.com. Call (800) 733–4111, ext. 2307, or email swright@the-papers.com.
Park it: Best recreational spaces
Shouldn’t everyone have access to constructive outdoor activities, no matter where they live?
The Trust for Public Land thinks so. The organization has created parks across the country for use by local communities so that Americans of all colors, creeds and incomes are inspired to lead healthy lifestyles; so neighborhoods are more connected; and so that residents’ natural environment is able to mitigate instances of flood, drought and other natural disasters.
ParkScore is a national standard developed by the Trust for Public Land to advocate for improved park systems. It was created by evaluating the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. based on park equity, or how accessible existing parks are to disparate races
and incomes; access for the differently abled; investment amenities; and acreage.
In the top cities, as many as 99% of residents live near a park. More than 21% of city land is used for parks, and an average of almost $400 per person is invested in park amenities, maintenance and programming.
The U.S. cities with the top ParkScore ratings for 2025 are:
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