Park plans create controversy

The fountain. The steam engine. Now, the trees. Plans to redo Mount Pleasant’s Central Park have caused public outcry over the last six weeks after citizens learned nearly half the park’s trees might be removed and replaced with new.

Designs for the park’s $1.2 million renovation, approved by the Mount Pleasant City Council in May, included taking out 23 mature trees spread across the park and planting 24 new around its perimeter.

Concerned residents voiced disapproval for cutting down full-grown trees, citing shade, ambiance and memorials as reasons they should not be removed.

“I just don’t believe cutting healthy, mature trees to put in young trees that will take years to grow to that size is right,” said Mount Pleasant resident David McCoid.

Some trees were removed in the plan to make way for wider sidewalks, others because of sickness and disrepair.

“If they are diseased or damaged I understand. But I think it is a shame to cut down those trees,” said resident Marilee Donnolly.

To ease their concerns, the LINCS Committee, a consortium of community representatives responsible for the plans, is reviewing ideas with its architect to keep every branch possible in its current place.

The LINCS committee was formed in 2003 to improve the city’s economy through development and includes representatives from the city, Iowa Wesleyan College, Midwest Old Threshers and the Mount Pleasant Chamber Alliance, among others.

“We’re definitely going to keep as many trees as we possibly can,” said Lisa Oetken, director of Main Street Mount Pleasant and member of the LINCS Committee.

At least four large trees near the center of the park must be removed. These trees’ leaves lead to clogs and high maintenance costs for the Edd King Memorial Fountain. Two dying pin oaks and several trees suffering from ice and storm damage also will be uprooted. The park now houses 52 trees, one was removed last month after being marred last winter by ice.

To replace the trees, landscape specialists from Shive-Hattery Architecture suggested planting thornless locusts around the edge of the park, Oetken said. Instead of planting saplings, 8 to 10 foot trees will be inserted in the ground with a tree spade.

The controversy surrounding the trees can be blamed on the LINCS committee for not communicating the plans well enough to the public, Oetken said.

Two other Central Park issues became hot topics for citizens during Central Park’s design phase, which was commenced in August 2005.

When plans looked at replacing the fountain, dedicated in 1988 to the city’s slain mayor, public outcry caused the designs to be altered ensuring it remained the focal point of the park.

In January, when word spread plans included moving the steam engine off the square, petitioners gathered 1,105 signatures asking to keep the relic put. Despite the petition, plans moved forward to relocate the iron horse elsewhere.

Current renovation plans call for moving the steam engine to the northeast corner of the courthouse lawn. Across the street, a landscaped area with a “Welcome to Mount Pleasant” sign and four-sided clock would be added as part of the Central Park overhaul, too.

Though a petition couldn’t stop its move, the steam engine has continued to be a subject of discussion for Mount Pleasant residents.

Blocking the view of the Henry County Courthouse and taking out a blue spruce hospice tree are the main concerns of rural Henry County resident Carol McCulley.

“I was county auditor for 16 years, so I care very much about the appearance of the courthouse lawn,” said McCulley. “Adding the steam engine would take away from its beauty.”

The LINCS Committee believes the move to the courthouse lawn would be beneficial.

By placing the steam engine across the street welcome area, visitors would enter downtown through a framed entrance on Washington Street, Oetken said. She added the committee did not want to subtract from the beauty of the lawn, but felt it would add to the feel of the new entrance welcoming people to the area.

“It will be a great entry to downtown,” Oetken said. “It’s kind of like a front porch — we have to welcome people into the square.”

Right now, the steam engine move is only conceptual and has not been approved by the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

Plans for the Central Park, the steam engine and the welcome area will further after committee secures its funding. So far, the project has a $400,000 pledge from the city council but also requires a $400,000 Vision Iowa grant and $400,000 from local donors to come to fruition.

The large gift campaign for the project began at the beginning of this month, and if all of the necessary funding comes through, the project will be completed in summer 2010.