HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay Sustainability Spotlight - 2016 - Zac HallWhat does sustainability mean to you,
and why do you believe it’s important?
Personally, sustainability means the pragmatic planning use
and reuse of current resources, so we can fulfill our cur-
rent needs, while minimizing any negative impacts on future
generations. Basically, it means trying to leave things better.
I think sustainability is important so we have the ability to
set up future generations to succeed in whatever challeng-
es they may face. Our sustainable actions should allow
them to be better equipped to address those issues.
What actions have you taken to improve sustainability within your position?
We’ve analyzed our mowing operations and determined how to decrease our mowing frequency so we are using
less fuel, while still maintaining an acceptable standard. We’ve also been analyzing the non-park land areas we main-
tain, such as medians, right-of-ways, and highways to determine best management practices. Our goals are to in-
crease the biodiversity, stormwater management and aesthetics of those areas while maintaining efficiency.
We are actively working on designated prairie areas, specifically at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, Kiwanis Park,
Kickers Soccer Complex, Rohret Road Prairie, Wetherby Park, Hunters Run Park, and Ryerson Woods. We have
been managing these prairie areas by mowing and over-seeding, and eventually will incorporate burning.
We’ve recently collaborated with the University of Iowa’s Sustainability Offices and their power plant to explore the
potential to use wood waste collected from Iowa City’s forestry operations.
Since I started, we have increased our recycling program by better understanding the behind-the-scenes of recycling,
such as the market for recycling and economics of it.
In your opinion, what efforts can be made to improve sustainability within our community?
I think the first step would be increasing education and outreach to help minimize any stigmas and reservations people
may have about sustainability. The research is finally far enough along to show that sus-
tainability can be cost-effective, and in fact can often be more beneficial from a cost
standpoint than doing what we used to do.
For more information about the City of Iowa City’s sustainability efforts, visit
www.icgov.org/sustainability, subscribe to our Sustainable Iowa City newsletter at
www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions, or follow #SustainableIC on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Sustainability Spotlight:
Zac Hall
Superintendent, City of Iowa City Parks and Forestry Division