Urban Conservation Advisory Committee

Department Receives Stewardship Award The Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) award the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department its 2006 Urban Steward Award at a recent board meeting. The Park and Recreation Department was recognized for their efforts that resulted in the installation of soil and water saving practices on park land.  Participating in the award ceremony were (Left to right) District Conservationist Paul Miller, park board members Susan Koenig-VandeHaar and Susan Noland; Teva Dawson, park department employee; park board member Marian Gelb; Joe Galloway, park board president; Des Moines City Mayor Frank Cownie, Polk SWCD Chair Jane Clark; Parks Director Don Tripp; Stephen Roe, Polk SWCD vice chair; Marlene Anderson, park department employee; and Polk SWCD Treasurer Mark Nemmers. Mission: Promote a park management philosophy that is holistic and ecologically based through policies that direct the planning, design and maintenance of healthy green space in the City of Des Moines toward protection and enhancement of the natural environment. In the spring of 2006, the Park and Recreation Board adopted a new Land Stewardship Policy to guide the planning and operation of the facilities managed by the Park and Recreation Department. Land Stewardship Policy Urban Conservation Advisory Committee's 2006 Goals and Accomplishments Recommended Committee Membership (7-22 members): • Park Board Members (4) • Drake University Representatives (2) • NRCS/URBAN (1) • Metro Waste Authority (1) • Polk County Conservation Board (1) • Iowa Department of Natural Resources (1) • Des Moines Neighbors (2) • Media (1) • Des Moines School District (1) • Iowa State University (1) • Private sector commercial and/or home real estate company (1) • Landscape designers (1) • Engineer (1) • City Council liaison (1) • At large citizens (2-3) • Des Moines Water Works • Non voting city staff: Park Department, Community Development, Public Works: Storm Water Utility (2+)