DEMONSTRATION ORCHARD

The Marion Demonstration Orchard, located by the green house at Lowe Park, was developed out of a partnership between Blue Zones Project, Linn County Master Gardeners and the City of Marion. A variety of local fruit and nut producing trees and shrubs were planted by volunteers with the long-term goal to have readily available produce for the public to pick at their leisure during the ripening season. Maintenance and care are addressed by a couple of organizations who benefit from the orchard for teaching and training, including Trees Forever Fruit Tree Keepers and the Linn County Master Gardeners. As the trees and bushes mature they will provide beauty as they bloom in the spring, habitat for native wildlife and produce delicious and nutritious snacks for visitors to Lowe Park as the fruit ripens. The orchard will be used for educational opportunities such as pruning, pest management and harvesting.

FAULKES HERITAGE WOODS 

Faulkes Heritage Woods is a 110 acre parcel of forested land on the south edge of Marion located approximately between Highway 100, 30th St. Drive SE and Tama Street SE. For decades the woods were owned by descendants of the Faulkes family. The Woodland was left undisturbed for decades, and there has been no domestic animal grazing, crop production, logging or other economic activity on the property for many years.

The land consists of a series of steep ravines between ridges that slope to the north down to Indian Creek as well as a portion of the creek’s floodplain. South of the Creek the land rises and is cut by several north/south oriented ravines separating ridges with two east/west ridges. Some ravines converge creating “toe slopes.” The topography is complex and the elevation at the south boundary is approximately 886 feet above sea level, dropping to 735 feet at Indian Creek.

This property is managed in partnership by the City of Marion and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) with a conservation easement. Staff and volunteers work to ensure that the valuable natural resources are not only safeguarded, but also remain healthy and vibrant far into the future. Year-round events are scheduled with volunteers and partners to restore and build native habitat for wildlife and people to enjoy.

NATIVE PRAIRIE HABITAT

The City of Marion Parks and Recreation Department manages more than 115 acres of native prairie and pollinator habitat within the community. This is done to maintain species diversity and includes removal of invasive noxious weeds and volunteer woody plants and bushes using best management practices and standard methods of control. These methods include hand cutting, mowing and prescribed burning.

In 2016, the City of Marion committed to a public-private partnership between the City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and the Monarch Research Project with the goal of reestablishing 1,000 acres of diverse pollinator habitat in areas where low-value turf or vegetation exists.

This endeavor helps offset the excessive habitat loss across the state of Iowa and increases populations of pollinators that are crucial to the agricultural economies, food supply and landscapes surrounding our homes and communities.

Marion installed the first 27 acres in 2017 and is scheduled to complete 20.79 acres in 2021. In total, there will be 114.5 acres converted within the Marion community over the five-year initiative. Some locations where these pollinator-friendly plots can be viewed are Lowe Park, Indian Creek Watershed, Echo Hill Waterway, Waldo’s Rock Park and medians along the Tower Terrace Roadway.

Native prairie plants, forbs and grasses contribute significant benefits to pollinators and humans alike. While providing habitat and colorful blooms throughout the growing season, their water-filtering and carbon-storing qualities improve infiltration and stormwater retention, reduce erosion and build rich native soils. Prairies require little maintenance once established and will continue to grow in value and provide an unmatched ecosystem above and below the ground as they mature.

If you have questions about Marion’s Prairie Pollinator Habitat, please contact the Marion Parks and Recreation Department at 319-447-3580.