Beautification Committee Meeting notes 10/28/25

Attended:  Nancy Dunbar, Carole Betts,Tina Bickel, Donna Foltman, Sasha Kamper, Jean Swanson, Terry Thielen, John Waters

Parks: Ashby – parks & rec replaced the annuals in the sign with mums, Beaverdale – annuals will need to be removed after frost, Westchester – annuals still look great-will need to be removed after frost, , Bel-Aire and Palm Islands – John has removed his annuals, Holland island bed looks good thanks to Rita and Ron’s care

Trees: new memorial tree (Japanese Tree Lilac) was planted for Carole Ward by the Ashby/Wallace Lane neighbors in the median between 44th & 45th and dedicated on Oct 12. Neighbors and family were in attendance and toasted Carole by watering tree. They will continue watering tree with attached bag through next 2 seasons. The red oak planted in memory of Marion Wissler is being watered by family members. Carole volunteered to do some research on the memorial trees, assessing how many still have plaques, need pruning, are missing, etc.  Perhaps plan an event next year to walk the median stopping at trees to remember.

Urbandale median: Beds at 34th St and Beaver Ave intersection will be cleaned up in spring. Nancy and Mary Ellen will continue picking up trash.

Streetscape: Giant mums were put in the planters for fall and looked great. Sasha emailed compliments to Tom and Cece.  Dead streetscape trees were removed but not replanted yet.

Flowers: Flower order for spring was submitted by Oct 4th.  17.5 flats were ordered.  Nancy received 125 yellow daffodil bulbs to plant in Ashby Park along parking lot bed and in  open space by bench along trail.  Nancy and LaShell have augers to drill holes, volunteers can place bulbs and fill in holes.  Planting is scheduled for 3PM on Sunday, November 1st. 

2025 Garden Walk:   It was recommended to donate $5000 to the Beaverdale Park Playground fundraiser, reserve $1000 for 2027 Garden Walk, and buy daffodils for beautifying neighborhood.  Last Board meeting discussed using some funds to make up for other losses.  Most of the funds SHOULD be used for neighborhood beautification projects since that is stated in our publications. 

Fall Festival review: No parking signs for the median were partly successful. No cars were parked on medians east of the festival.  But signs were not seen in medians west of 41st Street. Cars were parked on the medians all the way to 45th St.

Bike Lanes on Urbandale Ave: Nancy shared a letter from Dan Fillius who coordinates the Moore school bike bus rides on Wednesday mornings.  Looking for input on ways to make bike lane safer for kids.   Path through median not realistic. Perhaps look at widening sidewalk like on 6th Ave?

Next meeting: Nov 18th at 6:30 at 4326 Hickman Road, bring ideas for January dinner