Council Bluffs Trees Forever

By Rita Sealock

Council Bluffs Tress Forever chapter started in 1991 with an $11,000 grant from the National program. January 22, 1993, the Articles of Incorporation were signed by a committee of five members, one of whom continues to play an integral role in our impact on our community (including the city itself and all the surrounding smaller communities in Pottawattamie County.)

These five began an aggressive hunt for concerned citizens with strong interest in our environment and Trees Forever goals. Soon the group met their goal of 25 members representing schools, businesses, government, utilities and the general public.

For the first few years, we focused on “spreading the word” through our annual tree distribution. During that time, one of our members was the Superintendent at Iowa School for the Deaf—a Regents’ school referred to as ISD. They have a large multi-acre campus. William Johnson was one of the five original members. He recruited ISD Maintenance Supervisor Rich Connel, an enthusiastic young man, to Trees Forever. There was employee housing on the campus so we knew our tress would be appreciated and cared for.

When the plantings on campus reached 1,000 trees, they worked with us developing an ecological restoration of native prairie. This would be a large area that runs the entire north edge of the campus and connects with walking and riding trails. It also provides a beautiful view for cars passing along a heavily travelled portion of Highway 92.
William Johnson and our group were honor by Tree City USA in Des Moines. Since the plantings were done during the mid-90s, the trees lend great beauty and grace that we are now very proud of and drive visitors through every chance we get.

Today, we are focusing many of our plantings at Iowa Western Community College. Although it is a work in progress, it is beginning to develop like ISD. It is a much larger campus, but the instructor of their new landscape design degree is a new member of our Tress Forever chapter. I am certain she will continue to work with us as this campus develops and tress mature. Two years ago, we also reached 1,000 trees planted there. However, on this size campus on which a football stadium is being built, we have more work to do. Their maintenance of the campus is also exemplary.

Schools have only been one of our focuses as can be seen throughout the area. We set aside a percentage of our grant money each year and the schools send applications for our school committee to choose from. We really believe there is much more pride being developed regarding the school grounds in our area and the trees are being appreciated by the students, staff, parents and neighbors. One principal told us we have inspired the neighborhood as well. When we have plantings at schools we involved the whole school community. Some have after school ecology groups. Iowa Western also has students fulfilling class assignments doing landscape plans, some of which we’ve used on their campus. This certainly reflects our Tress Forever mission!