TRAER – The Taylor Park Landscape & Beautification Committee along with the City of Traer and the Traer City Council have been working hand-in-hand on an initiative to make improvements to Taylor Park. The initiative is called ‘Polish Up Taylor Park’ and we’d like to update you on our progress.

The Polish Up Taylor Park project began in 2021 when the committee contacted Iowa State University’s Community Design Lab to provide a comprehensive concept plan for potential improvements to the park. This plan was completed in May 2023. During Traer’s Sesquicentennial in 2023, the committee launched a fundraising campaign and received overwhelming support for improving Taylor Park. In 2024, the committee took the ISU CDL plan to the next stage and hired RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects from Waterloo, Iowa, to develop the overall site plan for the park (see attached map). Our goal is for improvements to the park to be done in yearly phases with an expectation of five to seven 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 a new 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.

Taylor Park is a central feature of Traer. Since the derecho and other wind events, many areas including the trees, shrubbery, flowers, plants, 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, it’s a great time to bring these other park areas up to par. Taylor Park can and should be a showcase of our town. All 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.

The Taylor Park Landscape & 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.

How to help POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK

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 whose generous donations have helped launch the Polish Up Taylor Park project and we appreciate the continued support.

The Taylor Park Landscape & Beautification Committee has set up a fund within the Traer Community Foundation for contribution to the POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK initiative. These funds will be used for the ongoing improvements and future maintenance of Taylor Park projects. The funds are governed by a local board of directors through the Traer Community Foundation.

Mail your tax-deductible donations to:

POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK

c/o Traer Community Foundation

611 2nd Street, Traer, IA 50675

Make your checks payable to: POLISH UP TAYLOR PARK.

Traer’s Landscape & Beautification Committee members include Tracey Hulme, Rod Hulme, Patty Seuss, Mark Keefer, Shawn Kennedy, Curt Jensen, Nick Podhajsky, Michelle Podhajsky, Aaron Mennenga, and Tara Mennenga.

For more information visit: www.traer.com/polishuptaylorpark.

Questions? Please contact Tracey Hulme, chairman of the Taylor Park Landscape & Beautification Committee, at hulmet@waterlooschools.org.