Shade Trees Are Popular Stop Along RAGBRAI Ride

Marion, Iowa – (July 22, 2009) Picture a pack of RAGBRAI riders, huffing and puffing and pushing themselves up that last stretch of a long, uphill climb. Their eyes search the horizon for their next goal - their prize - a big shade tree under which the riders can rest and regain their strength. That shade tree is possibly the most under-appreciated and under-reported of all the “must-see” stops on the annual RAGBRAI tour.

Who doesn’t appreciate the shelter of a large shade tree during Iowa’s blazing summer heat? These trees become little oases of shade and comfort scattered throughout the Iowa landscape during the annual week-long RAGBRAI bike ride. Mark Signs, Development Director for Trees Forever, remembers the scene from a past RAGBRAI ride.

“Quite a few years ago we lived on a farmstead right on the RAGBRAI route, just south of Dawson. We lived at the top of gradual but lengthy incline, and our front yard was filled with huge mature trees. As the day progressed, literally hundreds and hundreds of riders stopped to rest in the shade under those trees. It was quite the sight! When they left, many even thanked us for the use of our shady yard.”

Trees Forever, a non-profit environmental group based in Marion, Iowa, has been promoting and planting shade trees throughout Iowa for the past twenty years. Trees Forever field coordinators assist communities with planning and implementing community tree planting projects, roadside and trail plantings, and streamside buffer plantings. They emphasize the use of native trees and plants as a way to ensure the success and sustainability of each project.

Fourteen of the Iowa communities on this year’s RAGBRAI route have worked with Trees Forever during the past 20 years to plant more trees and enhance their town’s natural areas. Those communities are: Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Stanton, Villisca, Corning, Greenfield, Orient, Indianola, Chariton, Moravia, Packwood, Brighton, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington. Some of those communities have worked with Trees Forever for 10 years or more.

In addition to helping communities plant more trees, Trees Forever also helps communities assess and evaluate ways to enhance their roadways and trails through the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. Five of this year’s RAGBRAI communities have participated in this Visioning process. The program is a partnership between Trees Forever, Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration.

“The Visioning program is a nearly year-long process that encourages residents and community leaders to take a fresh look at their roadways, entryways and trails,” notes Pamela Helfer, Program Manager with Trees Forever. “We encourage participants to brainstorm and evaluate a variety of ideas to improve or enhance their town’s transportation corridors. Then everyone involved works to prioritize those ideas and develop a plan of action to achieve their stated goals,” Helfer adds.

The end result is more trees and native plants along Iowa’s many roadways and trails. This makes for a greener, healthier state in which to live and work. Studies have shown many economic and environmental benefits of trees in our communities, including increased property values, increased retail sales, energy conservation savings and carbon sequestration.

And let’s not forget all that wonderful shade for those hot, tired RAGBRAI riders making their way across Iowa this week. Shade trees are, literally, the coolest spot on the RAGBRAI route!

For more information on Trees Forever or the Iowa’s Living Roadways program, please call 1-800-369-1269, or log onto www.TreesForever.org.