Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Johnston Police Monitoring Neighborhood Speed Limits, Intersections

Johnston police officials are increasing patrols within the Green Meadows West community this summer, helping to encourage compliance with 25 mph speed limits and full stops at neighborhood intersections.

Areas of concentration include, but are not limited to:
  • Intersection of King’s Row and Windsor Parkway
  • Intersection of Chambery Boulevard and Foxboro Road
  • Chambery Boulevard, east- and westbound
  • Foxboro Road, north- and southbound
Speed-enforcement trailers, which serve as non-ticketing reminders to passing motorists, may be incorporated into the effort later this summer or next spring.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

All-ages Educational 'Prairie Walks' Announced for Summer 2013

The Green Meadows West Homeowners Association has announced a series of educational walking tours for the 2013 summer season. Led by expert Inger Lamb of Prairie Landscapes of Iowa LLC, neighbors of all ages are invited to learn about the plants of the neighborhood's more than 12 acres of prairie.

The dates are:
  • June 10
  • July 2
  • July 24
  • August 15
  • September 5
Walks begin at 7 p.m. at the Windsor Park trailhead, located near the intersection of Windsor Parkway and King's Row. The path through the neighborhood's central prairie is paved.

This is the second year the walks will be conducted. The events are part of a comprehensive prairie restoration program administered by the association's board of directors. Attendees will learn to identify various types of native and non-native plants, and discussions will often focus on how neighbors can help maintain and improve the quality of the area's showcase landscape.

The prairie area is a unique feature of the Green Meadows West neighborhood, which was originally designed and developed by a subsidiary of the Pioneer Hi-Bred company, now known as DuPont Pioneer.

In addition to running a native landscape restoration and maintenance business, Lamb is a past contributor to publications such as Woodlands & Prairies magazine. A list of Lamb's articles of potential interest to prairie enthusiasts is available at her business website here. Resource lists, including planting recommendations for rain garden and native landscapes, are available here.