Decorah launches Greenspace Pilot Project downtown

Posted: Mon, July 01, 2018 9:01 AM

Part of the Greenspace Project on Washington Street at Water Street.

The Downtown Decorah Greenspace Project is the idea of the city's Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement Board, which supervises projects for downtown Decorah and the West Side. These projects are funded through a small property tax levy on properties within the district.

The Greenspace Project is being done in conjunction with Decorah City Forester Robin Sailor. "This is an opportunity to pilot project a sustainable green space in the downtown area," explains Sailor. "Green spaces have several benefits to urban environments; filtering air pollutants, collecting rainfall runoff, providing cooling shade, and attracting benificals insects."

The Greenspace Project aims to bring education and awareness to proper street plantings, including desired species and methods used to support happy healthy trees in tough urban environments.