MARION COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS SITE ASSESSMENT

SITE ASSESSMENT AREAS

• MAIN ENTRANCE• I-74 BURM• COMPOST• RAIN BARREL POSITIONS

MAIN ENTRANCE

POSITIVES

• The sign is fantastic

U.S. NATIONAL PARK SIGNS

NEGATIVES

• Garden bed underneath the sign takes away from the sign. The sign would look better on grass.

• It is not obvious that this is the main entrance. When I first arrived, I almost drove past this entrance, thinking it was a side entrance. Note: Only the drive navigating up the west side of the property was open at the time and that makes it less obvious.

• The fence is highly visible and not inviting. Especially with the barbwire top.• The entrance does not provide a sense of place (i.e. It does not brand the

fairgrounds).

IDEAS

• Extend mulch bed to SE corner where the fence and TroyAve meet.• Install 2 layers of plants/shrubs that are complimentary size to the sign and block the fence from view.

– Do not plant in straight lines, use natural arrangements. – Smaller, front layer of plants and a back layer of larger shrubs.– Use smaller plants that re-enforce the red and blue colors visible on the sign and add color interest in

the process.– Use plants that display visual interest for fairgrounds main use seasons.

• Install a few trees whose dark brown trunks will visually compliment the signs vertical brown elements.

IDEAS

• Frame the entrance with a plant and tree arrangement on the left side of the entrance.

• Need professional landscape architect to assist on design details.

• Funding Options?– Design Labor- Trade design work with a local

landscape architects for fair sponsorship or recognition.

– Installation labor (est. 20 people, 2-3 hours) – Volunteers; KIB, Master Gardener, Raytheon.

– Maintenance labor – Grounds keeper

I-74 BURM

Guest/Public Outreach

• Additional small prairie patch near rain garden with informational sign displaying I-74 burm planting, habitat benefits of prairie restoration and how people can do it themselves at home.

Year 1

• IOWA .pdf on incorporating prairies into multifunctional properties has good information on yearly tasks for establishing a prairie.

Year 2

Year 3

Questions

• How do you keep prairie from expanding from initial boundary?

• Controlled burns every 3-5 years or will mowing + manual weed pulling suffice?

• Does MC FG have equipment to cut burm prairie?

• Need pictures from Matt of MC FG Sign

Ideas

• Move Marion County Fairgrounds sign from back of white barn to the burm.

• Cover entire burm, front and back, with native prairie land.