As part of Traer’s 150th commemorative year, the Sesquicentennial Committee, the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee, and the City of Traer kicked off an improvement initiative in Taylor Park - we’re calling it ‘POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK’. Our project goal is to see Taylor Park blossom as a vibrant centerpiece of Traer once again. Our plan, in phases, is for updates and renovations to the

gazebo/bandstand; restroom facility; driveways, parking, and sidewalks; addition of an open air picnic shelter; children’s play area; teen activity area; public entertainment area; picnic tables, park benches, and trash receptacles; designated trash disposal area; and landscaping throughout the park.

 

Taylor Park is a central feature of Traer. Since the derecho and other wind events, many areas including the trees, landscapi, buildings, sidewalks, and hardscape features have fallen into disrepair. Take a walk through the park and you’ll get the picture. With our new shelter house and swimming pool attractions, now is the time to bring these other park areas up to par. Taylor Park can and should be a showcase of our town.

 

Here are our park objectives:

• Consult with Iowa State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture and its Community Design Lab group to assess and make recommendations for the park grounds, areas in need of renovation, and other potential improvement ideas

• Consult with RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects from Waterloo, Iowa, to develop the overall site and construction plans for the park

• Develop long-term, phased plans for construction and renovation projects throughout the park

• Work with the City of Traer to finance certain projects

• Seek grant funding and local fundraising to support Polish Up Taylor Park into the future

• Stir enthusiasm in the community for folks that are interested in helping out with planning, planting, and maintenance responsibilities in the future

• Partner with our local Master Gardeners and residents with green thumbs

• Include school children to educate and involve them in giving back to the community

 

Residents and visitors, young and old, benefit from a green space they are proud to stroll in, play in, picnic in, and hold events in. Green spaces increase the quality of life for a community and the value and pride we have in our land.

​

Progress Update for POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK:

OCTOBER 2022 - COMPLETED - Presentation of Analysis and Initial Planning Concepts including:

Develop inventory and analysis report

Presentation of analysis and initial concepts to Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee

Discussion of ideas for the public input session 

 

NOVEMBER 2022 - COMPLETED - Community Input Meeting - Meet the ISU CDL folks, hear their initial inventory and analysis report, and give your input on desired amenities, site configurations, goals, concerns, and opportunities for improving the park.

​

JANUARY 2023 - COMPLETED - Conceptual Design

Develop conceptual site plans (planting, hard-scape, programming), plant palette, and signage ideas

Presentation of initial concepts to Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee for feedback

 

SPRING 2023 - COMPLETED - Revised concepts and development of final plan/deliverables

Revise designs based on comments received in the committee review

Presentation of final deliverables: site plan, planting plan, plant palette, hard-scape layout and material suggestion, renderings of key spaces in the park

Identify small catalyst projects and long-term vision

Presentation of the final report and supporting posters

Discuss next steps, phasing, and potential partners and funding sources

Provide a set of design boards and a printed copy of the final report to the committee

​

SPRING/FALL 2024 - COMPLETED - Hiring of Ritland+Kuiper Landscape Architect firm, Waterloo, IA, to take the ISU CDL information to the exectuion stage in Taylor Park. Ritland+Kuiper will create a Site Map Master Plan for phasing and construction projects, a Planting Plan for landscaping throughout the park, and assist the committee to write and apply for grant funding for project phases.

 

The Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee is also working closely with the City of Traer and the City Council on large-scale projects for Taylor Park - they include: 

• Gazebo/Bandstand - maintenance and renovations - COMPLETED

• Play Equipment - new equipment coming Summer 2023 - COMPLETED

• Open Air Picnic Shelter - new construction on existing cement pad at NW corner

• Restroom Facilities - renovation or reconstruction to be determined

• Driveway/Parking/Sidewalk Updates - reconstruction to be determined

• Picnic Tables/Park Benches/Trash Receptacles - new furniture and locations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are making progress! Here is an update:

As part of the Polish Up Taylor Park initiative, Iowa State University’s Community Design Lab (ISU CDL) was hired to perform a comprehensive site evaluation and recommendations for landscape, hardscape, tree canopy, and overall improvements to Taylor Park. 

 

Chad Hunter, Assistant Director of ISU CDL, and Parker Wang, a student intern with the Iowa State’s Department of Landscape Architecture were in Traer on Tuesday, September 27th, 2023 for their initial site visit. Members of the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee were on hand to show them around.

 

The group explored the park with these areas of improvement in mind:

• Floral plantings, bushes, shrubs, trees and overall landscaping

• Landscaping around gazebo

• Tree canopy evaluation

• Trash solutions

• Designated picnic areas 

• Sidewalk along Highway 63

• Sidewalk paths throughout the park

• Children and teens play/interactive areas

• Park benches

 

The ISU CDL collaborated with the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee to develop the project. Additionally, the CDL held public input sessions to allow residents to share their goals and desires for the park. The key deliverables that the CDL provided the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee an inventory and analysis of the park, a general master plan for the organization of the park, a detailed planting plan and plant schedule, conceptual hard-scape plan, renderings of key design concepts, phasing plan, posters for the public presentation of the work, and a final written report. The CDL met regularly with the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee and kept us updated on the design's progress and ensured that the work continued to fit our vision. Mr. Hunter managed the design process with design support from landscape architecture student interns at Iowa State University.

​

​In 2024, Ritland+Kuiper Landscape Architect firm, Waterloo, IA, was hired to develop the overall site plan for the park. Our goal is for improvements to the park to be done in yearly phases with an expectation of 5-7 years for the project.

​

Taylor Park’s potential improvements include, renovations and new construction plans for the following:

• Gazebo/Bandstand

• Restroom Facility

• Driveway, Parking, and Sidewalks

• Open Air Picnic Shelter

• Children’s Play Area

• Teen Activity Area

• Public Entertainment Area

• Picnic Tables, Park Benches, and Trash Receptacles

• Designated Trash Area

• Landscape Throughout the Park

 

To date new children’s playground equipment has been installed, repairs and updates to the Gazebo/Bandstand have been completed, and new under-story blossoming trees along highway 63, a ‘Mayor’s Christmas Tree’ centrally located in the park, and evergreens on the north side have been planted. Currently we are investigating construction plans for new a restroom facility and a new open air picnic shelter on the existing cement pad on the northwest corner. The committee is in the process of researching and applying for grant funding for 2025 and 2026 projects. Plans throughout the park are a work in progress and will continue to evolve.

 

The Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee is excited to be taking these steps now to ensure the future and longevity of our park. We see this as the beginning of a legacy community project to keep Taylor Park in peak condition as an investment for future generations.

 

To date, funding for the ISU CDL and RITLAND+KUIPER portions of this project have been awarded through grants sourced by the Taylor Park Landscape & Beautification Committee. Future finances for improvements will be provided by local, county, state and federal grants as well as fundraising and donations. We would especially like to thank all those who’s generous donations have helped launch the Polish Up Taylor Park project and we appreciate the continued support.

​

If you have questions please contact Tracey Hulme, president of the Taylor Park Landscaping & Beautification Committee, at hulmet@waterlooschools.org

​