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Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Application
City of Dubuque City Council Meeting Consent Items # 014. Copyrighted September 16, 2024 ITEM TITLE: Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Application SUMMARY: City Manager sharing the application that was filed for the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community after City Council approved the letter of support and appointment of a city representative at the September 3, 2024, City Council meeting. SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Type MVM Memo City Manager Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo Application Supporting Documentation Past Council Action Supporting Documentation Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Application DATE: September 10, 2024 Dubuque All-beria city 2007.2012.2013 2017*2019 Leisure Services Director Marie Ware is sharing the application that was filed for the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community after City Council approved the letter of support and appointment of a city representative at the September 3, 2024, City Council meeting. Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Marie Ware, Leisure Services Director Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Director SUBJECT: Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Application DATE: September 9, 2024 INTRODUCTION Dubuque All -Merin City 111111 2007.2012.2013 2017*2019 The purpose of this memo is to share the application that was filed for the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community after City Council approval of the letter of support and appointment of a city representative at the September 3, 2024 City Council meeting. DISCUSSION The application is attached for review as well as the prior Council action. ACTION REQUESTED This action item is for informational purposes only. cc: Park Division Manager Steve Fehsal Director of Sustainability Gina Bell Forwarded message From: Google Forms <forms-receipts-noreply©google.com> Date: Thu, Sep 5, 2024 at 10:08 PM Subject: Application for Technical Assistance: Nature Connection & Climate Resilience To: <jared©wanderwoodgardens.com> Google Forms Thanks for filling out Application for Technical Assistance: Nature Connection & Climate Resilience Here's what was received. Edit res e ons Application for Technical Assistance: Nature Connection & Climate Resilience Thank you for your interest in becoming a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community. Your leadership is essential to creating equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play. Application Instructions& Please use the Application Worksheet for Nature Everywhere emailed to you to collaboratively prepare your responses with your community team. Once you are ready to apply, please enter your responses in this form. After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation with a copy of your submission. Please forward this email to your team so that everyone has access to your final submission. If you have questions, please contact nature_everywhere@childrenandnature.org. Applications are due on September 6, 11 pm CT. Thank you. Our team is excited to read your application! Email * jared@wanderwoodgardens.com *Team City and State * Dubuque, Iowa This 12-month technical assistance opportunity is specifically focused on communities ready to implement a Green Schoolyards or Early Childhood Nature Connection strategy. These strategies advance climate resilience, play equity, and increase equitable access to natural spaces. Please select which strategy for your team will focus on:& * Early Childhood Nature Connection Team Formation Please identify your 5-person community team. Each team member is expected to attend the Fall Vision Lab in Milwaukee on October 28-30, 2024. To successfully advance a systems -level green schoolyards or early childhood strategy we encourage applicants to include leaders involved in budget, policy and/or programmatic decision -making specific to the selected nature -connection strategy such as: • City chief sustainability or resilience officer or other senior representative of the Mayor's office • Senior representative of the school district superintendent, facilities, curriculum, or wellness departments • Senior representative of the local early childhood agency or early childhood coalition or nonprofit • Senior representative of the Mayor's Office of Children's Affairs • City parks and recreation director or senior representative • Senior representative of the local stormwater management agency or an organization implementing green infrastructure / nature -based solutions • Senior representative of a BIPOC-Ied community organization functioning as a green infrastructure/nature-based solutions partner of one of the above agencies • A designated team lead to provide coordination at least through the time of the Vision Lab. Community Team Lead Contact This person and organization will serve as your team's primary contact. First and Last Name * Jared McGovern Pronouns (Why Pronouns) * She/Her a He/Him They/Them Other: Title* Director Organization/Group * The Wanderwood Gardens Email* jared@wanderwoodgardens.com Team Member 2& First and Last Name * Danielle Willis Pronouns (Why Pronouns) * 6 She/Her He/Him They/Them Other: Title* Early Childhood Director Organization/Group * St. Mark Youth Enrichment Email * dwillis@stmarkyouthenrichment.org Team Member 3& First and Last Name * Deanne Althoff Pronouns (Why Pronouns) * 1 She/Her He/Him They/Them Other: Title* Mission Advancement and Community Relations Director Organization/Group * Hills & Dales Email * dalthoff@hillsdales.org Team Member 4 First and Last Name * Lisa Feltes-TeBockhorst Pronouns (Why Pronouns) 0 She/Her He/Him They/Them Other: Title Executive Director of Elementary Education Organization/Group Dubuque Community School District Email Ltebockhorst@dbqschools.org Team Member 5 First and Last Name Marie Ware Pronouns (Why Pronouns) 0 She/Her He/Him They/Them Other: Title Leisure Services Director Organization/Group City of Dubuque Email Mware@cityofdubuque.org Please confirm that all team members listed have reviewed the final application and can attend the Vision Lab in Milwaukee. * 0 Yes, all team members have reviewed the application and can attend the Vision Lab -71 Nature Everywhere Application Questions We are excited to hear about your goals as a Nature Everywhere Community. Please enter your responses for each question below in 500 words or less for each question. 1. Interest in advancing climate resilience via Green Schoolyards or Early Childhood Nature Connection strategies: a. How will your community's involvement in Nature Everywhere connect children to nature more equitably while also increasing climate resilience? The City of Dubuque is dedicated to sustainability and climate resilience. This dedication is reflected in many comprehensive master plans, within the people guiding these plans, and in the actions underway to make Dubuque a climate smart community. As a Nature Everywhere community and with guidance from the technical assistance team we will create a strategy that interprets and guides the implementation of existing climate resiliency strategies through the lens of equitable early childhood nature access and connection. There are many current goals in place that we're excited to take further action. For example in section 10 of the City of Dubuques Climate Action Plan 2020, there are three Greenspace and Tree Canopy Goals. Goal 1: Strengthen Dubuque's tree canopy. Goal 2: Strengthen Dubuque's green space. Goal 3: Mitigate current and future urban heat island impacts. We envision a strong focus on shade equity (Goal 1), and resilience to extreme heat (Goal 2). According to Zoe Read (2024) "Young children are less able to regulate their body temperature than adults, and are more vulnerable to overheating. High temperatures can also worsen air quality, and impact a child's developing lungs." Researchers from Pennsylvania nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment share that increasing tree canopy and access to shade where children play can substantially increase the duration in which children safely play with, and in nature. The dedication to this plan and these goals is proven with a recent $1.5 million award in partnership with Dubuque Trees Forever titled "Branching Out Dubuque". This project will add 5,280 new trees to the City over the next five years. All trees will be planted in Dubuque's lowest socio-economic census tracts where people are most severely impacted by extreme heat and energy insecurity. A focus on access to high quality shaded green space near every person's home, in public parks, at school, and in childcare play areas/green areas is paramount to building equity into climate resilience and early childhood nature connection. Additional climate resilience goals are in place, such as a focus on native plant landscaping and wildlife habitat (Goal 2) that can be enhanced through a specific early childhood access lens. The City has already begun the process in many parks of reimagining underutilized lawn space and in some instances transitioning this space to native plants and wildlife habitat. Other existing programs to leverage include the Dubuque County Conservation Board's Mowing to Monarchs program, an urban pocket prairies program popping up in neighborhoods all over the city. The 2030 Climate Action Plan identifies "utilizing parks and marginal city property for greater community use" as a priority and will include equitably distributed publicly accessed greenspace. These and other goals already adopted by the City Council will elevate the physical location for development of an early childhood nature connection strategy in neighborhoods for Dubuque. This will ensure success in implementing the strategies such as educational and recreational programming related to neighborhood natural amenities developed through the Nature Everywhere process. 2. Opportunity to build on local momentum and community assets:& a. How will your community's participation in Nature Everywhere address current needs and build on your community's assets? Dubuque is ready to lead as the first Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community in Iowa! We have observed a need in Dubuque for nature -based play opportunities, specifically targeting early childhood students and their households. This is reflected in the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation NEXT GEN Perception Survey where a stronger focus on Dubuque's outdoor amenities is seen as a priority by young professionals with young children. This August, the Dubuque City Council completed their annual goal setting process and identified parks maintenance and parks refresh action plans as a 2024-26 high priority. A separate parks master planning process is funded and kick-off will be 12-2024 to 3-2025. We, as a leadership cohort, have the opportunity to influence this planning process and address needs by advocating for strong equitable early childhood nature connection components to be embedded throughout the action and master plan. Two exciting projects are in the works. The Wanderwood Gardens, a new 2.5-acre children's garden, will break ground this month with construction through 2025, opening in 2026. Dubuque Community School District has opened this fall a new preschool called Seedlings Preschool Center located in the Bright Minds Campus. Their goal is to integrate nature elements in their play area and learning programs. In addition to the leadership cohort, we will expand on our assets and expertise by intentionally adding other influential and aligned community members to form a collaborative. Dubuque plans to engage a Strategic Advisors Council with local experts in equity and sustainability/resiliency. As examples, we would engage the Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support, the Multicultural Family Center, the Office of Sustainability, Oh Happy Play (a play equity partner) and more. Dubuque will build upon guidance from Nature Everywhere and learn from the peer network to advance systems change that will prioritize equitable opportunities for our youngest community members and their caregivers to connect with nature. We aim to identify ways to meaningfully engage a diverse assemblage of professionals, trusted community advocates, and neighbors in activating Dubuque's system of neighborhood parks and neighborhood schools, reflecting the needs of the residents living in these neighborhoods, and to do so through the lens of early childhood nature connection. Dubuque is a place rooted in and proud of our history, we are dedicated to each other, to equity, to proven partnership work, and to our continued growth as a community. With the guidance of the Children and Nature Network, National League of Cities, and Kaboom! as well as our peers, we will take the momentum we are experiencing (reflected in Letters of Interest), and we will accelerate early childhood nature connections in Northeast Iowa. The timing is right for Dubuque to build upon the momentum and embed early childhood nature connection into the fabric of our community. b. Describe any specific city/district/regional plans developed or under implementation that hold implications or opportunities for your local effort. Imagine Dubuque 2037: A Call to Action: (the City of Dubuque's Comprehensive Master Plan) https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/34601 /2017-Comprehensive- Plan?bidld= Implication: A year of community outreach engaged over 6,000 participants who produced over 12,500 ideas from all sectors of Dubuque. This outreach took many forms, from casual conversations, to focus groups, workshops, surveys, and on-line submissions. Opportunities: We have local expertise within our city planning department of devising strategies to intentionally engage community members who typically don't engage. City of Dubuque Arts and Culture Master Plan (Specifically references the Sustainable Dubuque three pronged strategy: Economic and Ecological Integrity, Economic Prosperity, Social and Cultural Vibrancy): https://www.cityofdubuque.org/2269/Arts-Culture-Master-Plan Implication: Hundreds of community members representing most sectors of our community, shared their thoughts, dreams, and ideas as part of this planning process. Opportunities: Priority D: Cultivating Connections: Forging new relationships and strengthening existing ones between the arts and culture sector, the business, non-profit, educational, and public sectors. City of Dubuque Equitable Poverty Reduction and Prevention Plan: https://www.cityofdubuque.org/povertyprevention Implication: Early learning and childcare access is identified as one of eight determinants of poverty. Opportunity: Early learning and childcare promising practices include promoting the adoption of a city-wide framework for early learning; and sponsoring a youth summit to address young people's prosperity. Move DBQ: Smart Parking and Mobility Plan:https://www.cityofdubuque.org/movedbq#:—:text=The%20Move%20DBQ%20plan%2 fl�n,iII cffiricnrv%')( /-911anrl%' (lnvcrall 9n.iccr°/.9novncricnrc .. , �v�..� ivy /1)L,, ,wu. 1,1 V ,•1 u11 Implication: How do we move people from place to place, having tree lined streets, having easy access ways to community parks / schools etc? Opportunities: Identification of areas that could be transitioned to green space. Existing public parking spaces may not need to be parking spaces or parking lots anymore. City of Dubuque parks master planning process and maintenance and refresh action plan: Development to kick off in 12-2024 to 3-2025 Opportunity: Parks master planning timelines overlap with 2024/2025 Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Program timelines. Dubuque County Parks Master Plan: https://www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/176/Comprehensive-Parks-Master- Plan Implication: There is a hunger by many for access to more natural areas. Opportunity: Play within nature is a common theme within the master plan. 2023 Dubuque County Health Needs Assessment and Health Improvement Plan:https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/37675/CHNA-HIP-2023? bidld= Implication: Brain health, physical activity, nutrition and obesity are some of the top priorities identified in the plan. Opportunity: Regular access to nature, especially for young children has been shown to improve health (both physical and brain health) and happiness and foster lifelong positive relationships with nature. Dubuque Community School District 2024-2029 Strategic Plan: https://dbgschools.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/dcsd- strateg i s-p l a n-2024-2029. pdf Implications: A dedication to nature connection has been shown through the expansion of the outdoor experiences for Dubuque students and the opening of Seedlings Preschool Center. Opportunities: Dubuque Community Schools envisions expanding nature based play and green school yards to other play areas managed by the district. c. If your community has current initiatives (i.e., climate adaptation plan or sustainability plan) that will inform your involvement, please share links to websites and any related city, regional, organizational and/or community plans. Sustainable Dubuque: https://www.sustainabledubuque.org[ City of Dubuque Sustainability: https://www.cityofdubuque.org/606/Sustainable-Dubuque Section 10: City of Dubuque 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan: https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/46662/Dubuque-Climate- Action-Plan-2020 Full -Report FINAL 3. Nature Everywhere Support Nature Everywhere technical assistance includes support for diverse cross -sector team formation, institutional leadership engagement, community engagement and assessment; creating a shared vision; and action planning focused on your selected nature connection strategy. a. Please describe any specific areas of support that you wish to receive during this 12-month technical assistance opportunity? * Ensuring high functionality of a diverse cross -sector team: We aim to broaden the scope of our work by bringing new voices and perspectives into the nature -based learning and nature access space in Dubuque and the surrounding communities. The Technical Assistance Team can provide best practices to maintain a focused, high functioning group that will move systems level change forward. Engaging institutional leadership: We seek guidance on the best practices for engaging our local community leaders including professionals, childcare providers, and neighborhoods in our nature connection initiatives. The Technical Assistance Team can support expanding the leadership cohort to a diverse community collaborative engaging more institutional leaders committed to early childhood nature connections. Engaging new community voices and perspectives: The Technical Assistance Team can assist in diversifying the lenses in which we view nature access and engagement. Identifying underrepresented groups and best practices in engaging with populations that may not regularly engage with nature in the traditional sense or have been separated from nature over generations. Intentionally including a wide range of voices, will allow us to create a more dynamic, equitable, and effective approach to nature connection that resonates with all residents resulting in greater buy -in and a stronger community. Assessing current plans, policy and infrastructure: We aim to leverage the expertise of the Technical Assistance Team and other experts in policy and infrastructure systems by 1. guiding us on initiating and maintaining momentum around current plans and policy changes that support nature connection initiatives 2. advising on infrastructure development, such as creating safe pathways to nature areas, and 3. advocating for policies that prioritize nature access in urban and school planning. Creating a shared vision: A key goal is to develop a comprehensive early childhood nature connection vision/strategy. The Technical Assistance Team can guide us in designing a comprehensive vision from a variety of perspectives and fields that cohesively bring focus to early childhood nature connection. Action planning for early childhood nature connection strategies: After the shared vision, action plans can then be developed and programming created. The Technical Assistance Team can provide tailored guidance on best practices in creating a multi -faceted approach for systems level change. Elements we envision are integrating early childhood considerations into ongoing mobility and parks planning, expanding nature components into existing preschools, school playgrounds, and parks, and professional certifications that can empower childcare providers and early childhood educators to incorporate nature -based learning and nature play into their programs. The team can help us consider funding and resources to sustain these initiatives long-term. Assistance in identifying and mapping "nature deficit zones" in Dubuque and surrounding areas using GIS and data analysis, providing targeted recommendations for investing resources to enhance equitable natural access for all children and households. Peer -to -peer learning opportunities connecting us with other communities that have successfully implemented similar strategies. Through these connections we will gain even greater insights into effective community engagement techniques and learn how to utilize data to meet the specific needs of our neighbors 4. Team composition and cross -sector partnerships: Technical assistance and the kick-off Vision Lab provide an excellent venue to develop a cross -sector and cross -agency team with a shared commitment to nature connection; engage senior leaders in vision -setting; and build relationships. a. Tell us about your cross -sector team, and what you initially hope to accomplish during the Vision Lab kick-off in Milwaukee. Jared McGovern. Director of The Wanderwood Gardens. Jared has extensive experience in environmental education and interpretation leadership having worked for multiple states and numerous non-profit education centers in multiple community engagement capacities over the past 20 years. Danielle Willis. Director of Early Childhood with St. Mark Youth Enrichment. St. Mark is a non-profit organization that has more than 35 years of experience providing children academic and social emotional learning. Danielle has 20 years of early childhood experience, helping families understand the importance of social and emotional well-being and the many ways nature can help play a role. Danielle is leading the expansion into a nature focused early childhood education center opening in Fall, 2025. Deanne Althoff. Mission Advancement and Community Relations Director with Hills & Dales. Hills & Dales has been both a local and regional leader of disability services for over 50 years, with a current significant focus on autism services. The Hills & Dales autism program is one of the three largest Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy providers within the state of Iowa. Deanne has been with Hills & Dales for 20 years in a leadership and relationship building role. Marie Ware. City of Dubuque Leisure Services Director. Marie oversees Dubuque's Parks and Recreation amenities and has 39 years experience implementing systems change strategies, facilitating broad community input and planning, and is an expert in data gathering, making decisions based on data, and acting on the needs that are identified through these data gathering efforts. Lisa Feltes - TeBockhorst. Executive Director of Elementary Education for the Dubuque Community School District, Superintendent's Office. Lisa has served as an educator for 33 years through various roles. In these roles, Lisa has worked with curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and instruction. Completing this work with evidence and research -based strategies through a holistic approach and developmental practices. A passion for growing relationships, love of learning, and contributing to the positive impact on children have been the foci of Lisa's decisions and practices. Lisa works with several community partners in collaboration to bring access and opportunities to children and their families. Vision Lab kick-off: The leadership team is composed of passionate people who are subject matter experts and executive leaders in their fields. The Lab will allow us to apply our passions and bring our ideas and enthusiasm together around early childhood nature connection and learning. We will break away from our typical jobs and dive head first to focus our attention and collective energy into all that we have shared in this application. We want to absorb the expertise and excitement in the room with and from others who are starting this journey or have been leaders in their communities to bring Nature Everywhere. We will leave energized with more tools in our toolbox that we can pull out as needed and contacts in our phones as we begin this 12 month nature adventure. We hope to leave with a general roadmap that helps guide us into the work and commitments we will make before leaving. b. Describe how the organizations represented by your team are committed to launching a green schoolyards or early childhood nature connection strategy. Do individual team members have the support of organizational leadership to commit time and resources to strategy planning and implementation? Each organization's leadership has demonstrated support for dedicating time and resources to this collaborative effort. This will include planning and implementing strategies that leverage each partner's unique strengths and resources to create impactful, sustainable educational environments that connect children and the community to nature. This strategic alliance mutually enhances our capabilities to serve diverse community needs effectively and expand upon sustainability and resiliency initiatives. The collective commitment of Hills & Dales, St. Mark Youth Enrichment, The Wanderwood Gardens, the Dubuque Community School District, and the City of Dubuque to launching an early childhood nature connection strategy is deeply rooted in their aligned missions and supported by their respective organizational leaderships which is outlined below and in the letters of support. Each organization is known for partnering within the community. The Wanderwood Gardens is driven by a vision to provide enchanting nature experiences that foster joy and creativity. Their commitment to creating magical, interactive outdoor spaces for all ages aligns perfectly with creating an early childhood nature connection strategy, offering a natural extension of their mission. Dubuque Community School District aims to develop world -class learners and citizens, focusing on removing barriers and creating inclusive environments. Their involvement ensures that the educational benefits of an early childhood nature connection strategy are integrated into the curriculum, promoting critical thinking and problem -solving through engagement with nature. Lisa, a member of our Leadership Cohort, led the Dubuque Community School Districts opening of a new preschool learning center, Seedlings Preschool Center in August, in which nature play philosophies influenced the design, concepts, and development of the indoor and outdoor spaces. Hills & Dales is committed to enhancing community inclusion and supporting the whole person, which directly aligns with an early childhood nature connection strategy by integrating individuals with disabilities into outdoor, inclusive educational programs. The organization's advocacy for resources and policy support makes them a crucial partner in implementing such initiatives. St. Mark Youth Enrichment focuses on the holistic growth of children through innovative educational programs. Their mission complements creating an early childhood nature connection strategy by using nature -based learning to enhance academic and social -emotional development, supported by after -school and summer programs that already incorporate outdoor activities and a future early childhood education center. The City of Dubuque is focused on creating an equitable community (and organization) of choice. They do this through five pillars -resiliency, sustainability, equity, transparency, and compassion. As a high performing organization (and community) they strive to engage employees and residents through data driven and outcome -focused work. They do this work through partnerships, planning, and people. Many refer to these 3 p's as Dubuque's secret sauce. The components would all be a part of how the city participates in Nature Everywhere with our partners. Letter of Support Please upload a Letter of Support from institutional leadership (i.e., Mayor, School District Superintendent or Senior representative of the local early childhood agency). We require this step as part of the application process to ensure that your work is not only aligned with institutional priorities but also that your team and efforts are well -positioned for impact and sustainability. This letter serves as a formal endorsement, demonstrating that the institution is committed to providing the resources, guidance, and support needed to achieve the initiative's objectives. Submitted files City of Dubuque Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Letter of Support - Jared McGovern.pdf Community Team Engagement & Commitment By submitting this application, your Community Team agrees to do the following if selected: • Commitment to brief Vision Lab pre -work. • Establish a diverse, cross -sector team, beginning with a minimum of 5 representatives. • If selected, register and book travel by September 27. • Have all identified team members attend the Vision Lab in Milwaukee, October 28-30, 2024. Costs covered. • Participate in technical assistance and peer learning activities, and locally lead the milestones they support: community assessments, community engagement, visioning, action planning, and implementation through 12-months of technical assistance and beyond Masterpiece on the Mississippi September 4, 2024 Dubuque Office of the Mayor ulAi°�b City Hall 50 West 13th Street I I . Dubuque, IA 52001-4845 2007.2012.2013 www.cityofdubuque.org 2017*2019 Dear Members of the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Review Committee, It is with great pleasure that I share that at last evening's City Council meeting the City Council and myself unanimously approved the City's commitment to the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community program. We have appointed Leisure Services Director Marie Ware as our representative. The Nature Everywhere movement aligns well with numerous plans and initiatives of the city. The City's comprehensive plan Imagine Dubuque 2037 connects closely in numerous areas of the plan. A year of community engagement and outreach during this planning effort over 12,500 ideas from all sectors of the community. In the area of environmental integrity promotion of a health urban forest and native plantings, encouragement of edible landscaping and continued community gardens as well as increasing eco-education programming, particularly for children were called out. In the area of social and cultural vibrancy a focus on expanding access to healthy foods, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enhancing event access and participant diversity were suggested by residents. The action plan calls for updating the parks and recreation plan and we committed funding, and the process of a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan will begin at the end of the year and would complement the Nature Everywhere visioning and planning work. The action plan also calls out increasing native plant, pollinator and edible landscaping, conserving natural areas, supporting food production spaces, expand childcare options and resources, and more. Dubuque has been proactive in working in our lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods by investing major renovations for example in Comiskey Park. We currently have a grant request pending to complete Phase 2 which will enhance the park even more with a native planting area, many native plants in beds, and lots of trees. Jackson Park is also set for renovation in 2025. The timing and location of both parks meet the many goals of the city yet also overlay into Nature Everywhere in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. We share often that Dubuque is the place where people, planning, and partnerships are how we make things happen. We are striving to be an equitable community of choice using five pillars — resiliency, sustainability, equity, transparency and compassion. We hope you will consider Dubuque as a choice for a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community. We wholeheartedly support this application and have appointed our Leisure Services Director Marie Ware to our local committee. Sincerely, Bra Cavanagh Mayor City of Dubuque City Council Meeting ITEM TITLE: SUMMARY: SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Copyrighted September 3, 2024 Consent Items # 015. Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Letter of Support and Appointment of City Representative to Leadership Team City Manager recommending City Council recommending City Council approve the City's active participation in the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community through the drafter letter of support attached. It is also recommended that based upon the connection with visioning and planning that the city will be undertaking, that Leisure Services Director Marie Ware be appointed to the Nature Everywhere Community team. Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve ATTACHMENTS: Description MVM Memo Staff Memo Request Letter Letter of Interest Submission Draft Letter of Support Type City Manager Memo Staff Memo Supporting Documentation Supporting Documentation Supporting Documentation Masterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque Itretri All America City ' 1111.' 2007.2012.2013 2017*2019 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Letter of Support and Appointment of City Representative to Leadership Team DATE: August 29, 2024 Leisure Services Director Marie Ware is recommending City Council approve the City's active participation in the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community through the drafter letter of support attached. Jared McGovern, Director of Wanderwood Gardens, approached City Manager Mike Van Milligen regarding the city to become an active participant in the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community program. Active City participation is required. The Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities, and KABOOM! Foundation, have partnered to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn, and play in 100 U.S. communities by 2025. As a Nature Everywhere Community a Dubuque team would have access to tools, resources, and a national peer learning network of leaders, who can share successful strategies for connecting children to the benefits to nature. The RFA requires representatives to form a Nature Everywhere Community team. They ask for senior representatives with a mix of early childhood, school district, government and community partners. Thus far Jared McGovern has assembled the following Community team: Wanderwood Gardens and Dubuque Forward Recreation Spaces & Natural Areas Passion Team: (Jared McGovern, Debi Butler) City of Dubuque: To be appointed by City Council Dubuque Community School District: Lisa TeBockhorst, Director of Early Childhood Education St. Mark Youth Enrichment (Daniele Willis and Kaitlin Schmidt) Hills and Dales (Dee Althoff) It is also recommended that based upon the connection with visioning and planning that the city will be undertaking, that Leisure Services Director Marie Ware be appointed to this team. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. t.- Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Marie Ware, Leisure Services Director Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability 2 Masterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque trand AN-Aiwia City 2007.2012.2013 2017*2019 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Director SUBJECT: Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Letter of Support and Appointment of City Representative to Leadership Team DATE: August 29, 2024 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo to request a letter of support for the application to become a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community and appoint a city representative to the local leadership team. DISCUSSION Jared McGovern, Director of Wanderwood Gardens, approached City Manager Mike Van Milligen regarding the city to become an active participant in the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community program. Active City participation is required. The Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities, and KABOOM! Foundation, have partnered to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn, and play in 100 U.S. communities by 2025. As a Nature Everywhere Community a Dubuque team would have access to tools, resources, and a national peer learning network of leaders, who can share successful strategies for connecting children to the benefits to nature. Spending time outdoors, in nature, is essential for children's healthy development. From improving academic and social -emotional learning outcomes, to supporting physical and brain health, children thrive when they have frequent access to outdoor experiences and learning. Communities across the U.S. have succeeded in creating equitable access to nature through a variety of strategies that support complementary goals for climate resilience, public health, academic outcomes, youth leadership development, reducing disparities and more. Six to eight communities will be chosen as 2024 Nature Everywhere Accelerator Communities. The chosen communities will be eligible to apply for grants. This round of awards is focused on either green school yards and/or early childhood connection strategies. Dubuque has chosen the path of early childhood connection strategies. There will be another round of competition in 2025 focused on play equity. The 2024 RFA focuses on communities interested in exploring equitable nature connection strategies to support climate resilience and sustainability. Communities equitably enhance nature connections for young children potentially through four pathways: 1) nature play spaces in parks and public spaces 2) adding nature to outdoor spaces in early childhood programs, including centers, preschools, and family, friend, and neighbor care 3) nature -based programming at city facilities, such as libraries and recreation centers and 4) city -supported nature preschools. Additional efforts that support more equitable Early Childhood Nature Connection across all pathways might include aligning state childcare licensing requirements and quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), professional development for staff of early childhood programs, engaging families and caregivers to support early childhood nature connection. Early Childhood Nature Connection can advance climate resilience by addressing heat, flooding, air quality, food access, and wildlife habitat through features such as green stormwater infrastructure, tree canopy, native and pollinator gardens, nature play areas, and edible gardens. Communities' commit to the following: • Twelve-month program. • Develop community -wide Nature Everywhere vision and implementation plan using a systems -change approach that focuses on nature connection strategies such as green schoolyards and early childhood nature connections at a city or community -wide scale; elevating equitable access; and engaging BIPOC partners. Identify, advance, and scale a community -wide vision • Activate city government, school districts, and grassroots momentum for nature access. • Full participation in Three-day in person vision lab October 28-30, 2024 in Milwaukee to learn about successful nature connection and community engagement strategies. Technical assistance meetings and Children and Nature Network and National League of Cities in person Dubuque visit. This direct planning support from experts is for a two-year timeframe. Access to tools and resources (specifically mapping and community engagement tools Peer learning events and a national peer learning network Local planning initiatives More information can be viewed at Nature Everywhere Accelerator Communities. The timing of the application process is happening with very short timelines for completion. The timing and actions to date are outlined. • Request for city consideration received from Jared McGovern August 19, 2024 2 • Letter of Interest form due between August 9-21, 2024 • Letter of Interest submitted August 20, 2024 • Interview with technical staff of the program August 19-23, 2024 • Interview took place August 21, 2024 • Dubuque received invitation from program to apply for Nature Everywhere Communities C&NN and NLC technical assistance program August 21, 2024 with application deadline of September 6, 2024 • Review of applications by program no later than September 25, 2024 • Notification September 27, 2024 The RFA requires representatives to form a Nature Everywhere Community team. They ask for senior representatives with a mix of early childhood, school district, government and community partners. Thus far Jared McGovern has assembled the following Community team: Wanderwood Gardens and Dubuque Forward Recreation Spaces & Natural Areas Passion Team: (Jared McGovern, Debi Butler) City of Dubuque: To be appointed by City Council Dubuque Community School District: Lisa TeBockhorst, Director of Early Childhood Education St. Mark Youth Enrichment (Daniele Willis and Kaitlin Schmidt) Hills and Dales (Dee Althoff) Thus far the work has been completed by Jared, Daniele, Kaitlin, and Dee with editing assistance from Marie Ware for the letter of interest submitted. The names in bold would make up the five -person required community team. The letter of interest outlined working with our many community partners to advise, coordinate and be active in making sure BIPOC is integrated into the visioning and planning outlined above. It was fully understood at the submission of the letter of interest that the city could not be fully commitment without city council action that be on September 3, 2024. The committee intends to meet on September 4 to work on the application to meet the application deadline. The City is a required participant for the team to move forward and be competitive in the application process. A letter of support from the Mayor must be submitted with the application. The time commitment for a city representative on the community team is attendance at the vision lab, technical assistance meetings, and the work with visioning and planning through the next year. It was estimated the work would be 3-5 hours a month based plus the three-day vision lab. In researching this initiative, speaking with Jared McGovern, and reviewing all the materials and FAQ's the request for involvement in Nature Everywhere meets numerous city council goals, the city's comprehensive plan, as well as the city's pillars of the equitable community of choice. It also happens to align with the timing of the Leisure Services Department comprehensive parks master planning process. 3 ACTION REQUESTED I respectfully recommend the City's active participation in the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community and based upon the connection with visioning and planning that the city will be undertaking recommend appointing myself to this team. A draft letter of support is attached to this agenda item. cc: Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability 4 Marie Ware From: Mike Van Milligen Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 10:04 AM To: Jared McGovern Cc: Marie Ware Subject: Re: Children and Nature Network and National League of City's Nature Everywhere Attachments: Request for City of Dubuque Commitment to 2024 Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Application.docx; Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Information Session and Application.docx; 2037 Plan Connections to Nature Everywhere and WWG.docx Thank you Jared. We will research this. Marie Ware will attend this meeting as part of that research. Mike Sent from my iPhone On Aug 19, 2024, at 6:10 PM, Jared McGovern <jared@wanderwoodgardens.com> wrote: Caution! This message was sent from outside your organization. Never give your login information and password over email! Allow sender I Block sender Report Good evening Mike, Mr. Mayor. As you may have heard today and a little last week. We have been working with the Children and Nature Network and their partnership with the National League of Cities in laying the groundwork to recruit a leadership cohort in preparation for an RFA process that could ultmiatly lead to Dubuque being designated as the first Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community in Iowa. Please see the attached documents outlining a request/invitation that the City of Dubuque join the 5-member leadership cohort and that City Council formally endorse this effort. The RFA process this year is a bit rushed with the information session being hosted last week, Friday the 16th. The letter of interest and subsequent 30 minute interview with their technical assistant team deadlines are already approaching this week. These steps are more of a formality. We look forward to garnering city input prior to the application deadline on Septmber 6th. Please see attached letter outlining the invitation and requests to the city to join the leadership cohort, as well as a more detailed information document. i I have also included a document with excerpts taken directly from the Imagine Dubuque, 2037 Master Plan that we interpret as aligning with the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community declaration and an early childhood nature connection strategy. Hope you both are doing well. We very much look forward to working on this with you both and the rest of the city team. Thank you and have a great night. Jared McGovern DIRECTOR C 563.590.8060 jared(a�wanderwoodgardens.com www.wanderwoodgardens.com THE A WtWc' o_ GARDENS w 2 Final: Children and Nature Network Accelerator Community Dubuque Leadership Cohort Letter of Interest. Team Lead Contact Information (page 2) As the team lead, you will be the point of contact and coordinator for your team. During the application process, you will submit the interest form, attend the 30-minute call, and ensure that all team members have reviewed your team application before submitting it. The application process will require timely communication and responses so please provide us with an email address and a phone number where we can reach you during the application window. Team Lead Name* Jared McGovern Pronouns* He/Him Title* Director Organization* The Wanderwood Gardens Location (i.e., City, State)* Dubuque, Iowa Email address* jared@wanderwoodgardens.com Phone number* 563-590-8060 If you will be unavailable during the entire application and selection window, please provide us with the name, title, organization, email, and phone number of a secondary contact. * Danielle Willis Director of Early Childhood St. Mark Youth Enrichment dwillis@stmarkyouthenrichment.org 0: 563.582.6211 x108 C: 563.231.1932 Tell us more about your team (page 3) For the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community, we are looking for 5-member cross sector teams representing a mix of institutional representatives and essential community partners for advancing green schoolyards, early childhood and climate resilience strategies, with formal support from a community leader such as the Mayor, Superintendent, or other key decision makers. Teams should include representatives such as: • City chief sustainability or resilience officer or other senior representative of the Mayor's office • Senior representative of the school district superintendent, facilities, curriculum, or wellness departments • Senior representative of the local early childhood agency director • City parks and recreation director or senior representative • Senior representative of the local stormwater management agency or an organization implementing green infrastructure / nature -based solutions • Senior representative of a BIPOC-Ied community organization functioning as a green infrastructure/nature-based solutions partner of one of the above agencies Please tell us the current status of your team* • Fully committed team that meets all attributes listed above • Committed core team that meets most of the attributes listed above • Committed core team that meets some of the attributes listed above • Individual team lead currently recruiting other members. • Individual member only Please share additional information about your team, such as team member names, titles and organizations.* • Jared McGovern, Director of Wanderwood Gardens and Claira Sieverding Kapraun, Director of Brain Health Now and President of Strategic Projects with the Butler Family FoundationslMwll . Jared has extensive experience in environmental education and interpretation leadership having worked for multiple states and numerous non-profit education centers in multiple community engagement capacities over the past 20 years. • Danielle Willis. Director of Early Childhood with St. Mark Youth Enrichment, and Kaitlin Schmidt, Director of Strategic Resources with St. Mark Youth Enrichment. • Deanne Althoff, Mission Advancement and Community Relations Director with Hills & Dales. Hills & Dales has been both a local and regional leader of disability services for over 50 years, with a current significant focus on autism services. The Hills & Dales autism program is one of the three largest Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy providers within the state of Iowa. Deanne has been with Hills & Dales for 20 years in a leadership and relationship building role. • City of Dubuque Mayor and City Managers Offices: Leisure Services Director is currently providing guidance. A formal representative committed to the full 12 months is yet to be determined. We are currently moving through formal approval processes and City Council endorsement. Marie Ware serves as the Leisure Services Director, overseeing Dubuque's Parks and Recreation amenities and has 39 years experience implementing systems change strategies, facilitating broad community input and planning, and is an expert in data gathering, making decisions based on on data, and acting on the needs that are identified through these data gathering efforts. In addition to a city representative serving on the 5-person leadership team, we will also receive guidance from a Strategic Advisors Council we will develop which will include representatives from the Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support, Multicultural Family Center, and Oh Happy Play (a play equity partner). These strategy advisors will in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as well as plan alignment as we build out the early childhood nature access strategy for Dubuque. • Dubuque Community School District, Superintendent's Office: Representative is yet to be determined. Currently moving through formal approval processes beginning with introductory discussions with the Dubuque Community School District Director of Early Childhood. Please share additional details about how members of your team are participating in a current collaboration, how this team was brought together, or any other notes about team composition.* The St. Mark Youth Enrichment team are trusted leaders in youth programming and social emotional learning and are advocates and practitioners of nature -based learning play. St. Mark is embarking on expanding into early childhood education with an intentional nature focus with plans to open in Fall of 2025. The St. Mark's team are members of the Children and Nature Network and after attending the 2023 Inside Out Conference their team came back and presented this opportunity to the City of Dubuque's city manager's office. The city then reached out to Jared McGovern after being introduced to The Wanderwood Gardens, a new children's garden opening in Dubuque in spring 2026 whose mission is to inspire lives through creative outdoor play. This core team of three then came together and began discussing how Dubuque and our neighbors would benefit from becoming a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community. As part of these discussions, we also began the process of identifying two additional organizations to join in the application and to serve as members of the 5-member leadership cohort. Each individual representing each organization is currently or has partnered closely with the Dubuque Community School District. Conversations are ongoing with the Superintendent's Office. After attending the Children and Nature Network Conference in Madison the Wanderwood Gardens, St. Mark Youth Enrichment teams began to look at nature access through a new lens. They gained the perspective of occupational therapists, clinical autism service providers, and students diagnosed with attention deficit hyper/activity disorder and their households. As they were familiarizing themselves with the work of Dr. Ruth Wilson, including her newest book "Naturally Inclusive", The Wanderwood Gardens team became organically connected to Hills & Dales about a possible future partnership. The Hills & Dales mission is to build meaningful lives for both children and adults with disabilities while supporting the whole person with a strong focus on community inclusion. After a short Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community introductory call with the Hills & Dales team. they agreed to become a member of our leadership cohort with a strong disability and autism/behavioral inclusivity focus. Your goals for the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community pathway (page 4) Nature Everywhere is an initiative led by the Children & Nature Network, National League of Cities and KABOOM! that is working to create equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play. Communities are invited to apply as an Accelerator Community to launch a green schoolyard or early childhood strategy that can advance children's nature connection and climate resilience. Teams will receive one year of technical assistance, training, resources, peer learning and the opportunity to apply for seed funding. Which system -level nature connection strategy are you interested in advancing in your community* • Green schoolyards • Early childhood nature connections What are the top priorities driving your team's interest in and vision for this?* • Data Collection and Learning: A key priority is to gather comprehensive data to understand the Dubuque community's needs, knowledge, and awareness regarding the benefits of nature access. The Technical Assistance Team can support this effort by providing expertise in data collection methodologies, designing surveys, and conducting focus groups to identify existing gaps and barriers. Their analysis will help the community develop targeted strategies to address these challenges effectively, ensuring that interventions are data -driven and impactful. • Health and Happiness of Young Children and Their Families: We are dedicated to enhancing the health and happiness of young children and their families by fostering early connections to nature. The Technical Assistance Team can assist by offering best practices in program design and implementation, helping to create initiatives that inspire a lifelong positive relationship with the environment. They can also provide training and resources to educators and community leaders, ensuring that nature -based programs are both engaging and accessible to all families in Dubuque. • Equitable Access to Nature: Ensuring equitable access to nature is essential for our strategy. The Technical Assistance Team can play a critical role by identifying and addressing disparities in access to green spaces within the Dubuque community. They can help design and advocate for policies that create and maintain accessible natural areas in underserved neighborhoods. Additionally, the team can assist in developing outreach programs that empower all families, regardless of socioeconomic status, to connect with nature, making these opportunities truly inclusive. • Building a Regional Collaborative: Our vision includes building a robust regional collaborative of practitioners, researchers, and advocates focused on early childhood nature connection. The Technical Assistance Team can facilitate this process by bringing together diverse stakeholders across various fields —such as brain health, physical health, climate resiliency, sustainability, education, and human services —and aligning them around common goals. Their expertise in collaboration and network -building will be invaluable in creating a unified strategy that leverages the strengths of all involved sectors. • Expanding the Circle of Influence: We aim to expand our circle of influence by welcoming new voices and underrepresented voices into the environmental education, conservation, parks management, nature access, and nature -based learning communities. The Technical Assistance Team can support this effort by identifying and engaging underrepresented groups, facilitating dialogues, and ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the planning and implementation of our initiatives. Their guidance will help create a more inclusive and dynamic community, ensuring that our efforts are reflective of and responsive to the entire Dubuque population. How would you describe your team's current knowledge and skill in implementing this strategy?* Novice • 1 [Novice] • 2 • 3 • 4 • Describe existing relationships your team has with key leaders like the Mayor, school district superintendent, early childhood education network leaders, or other critical partners.* No one in Dubuque does anything alone. We are a unique community with a large concentration of nonprofits representing various fields. Our community is built on close partnerships, collaborations, and personal relationships. Between the five member organizations on our team, we represent many community leadership positions with vast active partnerships we intend to engage in this effort along the way. We have the close personal and professional relationships and regional and statewide connections necessary to influence action and drive change around a community strategy to facilitate meaningful early childhood nature connections. What are your goals for participating in the technical assistance program? For example, what topics or processes will support your team in the visioning, community assessment, and planning for nature connection strategies?* • Mapping Nature Deficit Zones and Resource Allocation: Our primary goal is to identify areas within Dubuque and its surrounding communities where access to nature is limited or absent, often referred to as "nature deficit zones." The Technical Assistance Team can provide invaluable expertise in mapping these zones using geographic information systems (GIS) and other data analysis tools. They can offer recommendations on where to invest time, energy, and financial resources to make nature more equitably accessible to all children and households. By pinpointing areas with the greatest need, we can focus our efforts working with partners on creating new green spaces, improving existing ones, and ensuring that every child in Dubuque has the opportunity to connect with nature. • Peer Recommendations and Community Engagement: We seek guidance on the best practices for engaging communities, professionals, childcare providers, and neighborhoods in our nature connection initiatives. The Technical Assistance Team can facilitate peer -to -peer learning opportunities, connecting us with other communities that have successfully implemented similar strategies. Through these connections, we can gain insights into effective community engagement techniques and learn how to utilize data to meet the specific needs of our population. This support will help us build strong, collaborative relationships within the community, ensuring that our efforts are both inclusive and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders. • Developing an Early Childhood Nature Connection Strategy: A key goal is to develop a comprehensive early childhood nature connection strategy. We need assistance in identifying techniques, financial and educational resources, and professional certifications that can empower childcare providers and early childhood educators to incorporate nature -based learning and nature play into their programs. The Technical Assistance Team can provide tailored guidance on best practices, curriculum development, and training opportunities, ensuring that educators in Dubuque are well- equipped to facilitate meaningful nature experiences for young children. Additionally, the team can help us secure funding and resources to sustain these initiatives long -tern. • Bringing New Voices and Perspectives: We aim to broaden the scope of our work by bringing new voices and perspectives into the nature -based learning and nature access space in Dubuque and the surrounding communities. The Technical Assistance Team can assist in identifying and engaging underrepresented groups, ensuring that our strategies are inclusive and reflective of the diverse experiences within our community. By intentionally including a wide range of voices, we can create a more dynamic and effective approach to nature connection that resonates with all residents. • Expanding Equitable and Frequent Access to Nature: Our commitment to equity drives us to be intentional and diligent in expanding access to nature. We need support in developing strategies that not only increase the availability of green spaces but also ensure that these spaces are frequently utilized by all community members. The Technical Assistance Team can help us design outreach and engagement programs that encourage regular use of nature areas, especially by those who may face barriers to access. This will help create a culture of nature connection that is embedded in the daily lives of Dubuque residents. • Leveraging Expertise for Policy and Infrastructure Changes: To sustain and expand our efforts, we aim to leverage the expertise of the Children & Nature Network (C&NN) and other experts in policy and infrastructure systems. The Technical Assistance Team can provide guidance on initiating and maintaining momentum around policy changes that support nature connection initiatives. This includes advising on infrastructure development, such as creating safe pathways to nature areas, and advocating for policies that prioritize nature access in urban planning. Their expertise will be crucial in driving systemic changes that make nature a central part of life in Dubuque. Is there anything else you would like us to know about your team or your interest in this opportunity?* Dubuque is ready to lead as the first Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community in Iowa! • There have been many recent investments in expanding childcare in the Dubuque area as well as across the state of Iowa, including investments in and new innovative partnerships between local organizations expanding early childhood education access. Some of which have been led by members of our leadership cohort. • The City of Dubuque is dedicated to lifting people from poverty and building a community of hope, climate resilience and inclusion. This dedication is visible in their $1.5 million award in partnership with Dubuque Trees Forever titled "Branching Out Dubuque". This project will add 5,000 new trees to the city of Dubuque over the next five years. All these trees will be planted in Dubuque's lowest socio-economic census tracts where people are most severely impacted by extreme heat and energy insecurity. Dubuque also minimizes its use of pesticides and herbicides in green spaces managed by the city and prioritizes native landscaping and the transitioning of underutilized turf areas to pollinator and wildlife habitat wherever possible. The recent renovation of Comisky Park is another example of the City of Dubuque investing in all community members and a testament to their skill in garnering community input and buy -in with projects designed to increase play and nature access equity. Finally, Mayor Brad Cavanagh of Dubuque, along with all member mayors of the National Coalition of Mayors, recently signed on in support of the Outdoors for All Act. Additionally, the City of Dubuque provides City Council -approved plans developed through robust community engagement on topics and actions focused on Climate Action, Equitable Poverty Reduction & Prevention, Arts & Culture, and a community -wide comprehensive vision and planning guide. • There have been recent transformative investments by business leaders such as the Butler Children's Garden Foundation and its Wanderwood Gardens (opening in 2026) and Cottingham and Butler's new Childcare Center (adjacent to a new art museum) as well as an innovative new collaborative between the Dubuque Community School District and Dubuque YMCA. The new YMCA Childcare Center has built a playground structure to facilitate learning through play as well as integrating representations of Dubuque's natural environment indoors. Pursuing classroom certifications through Nature Explore a program of the North American Association for Environmental Education. • Just this year, Hills & Dales opened the Weber Autism Center, allowing for expanded functional delivery of ABA therapy and services in a safe, comfortable, and FUN environment for clients currently ranging in age from 2 to 22 within the Autism Center. • Our faith communities are leaning heavily into nature access and climate resiliency. This can be seen through the efforts of the Interfaith Power and Light Coalition and in the Archdiocese of Dubuque's recent hiring of our friend Brian Zeaman as Director of the Life, Earth and Social Justice Ministry • Efforts by the Dubuque County Conservation Board, Dubuque County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium to provide outdoor experiences for all Dubuque Community School District students in grade k-5 every year have seen dramatic growth in the past two years and these same organizations have spearheaded a growing movement of urban native wildflower and grass gardens. We have observed a need in Dubuque for nature -based play opportunities, specifically targeting early childhood students and their households. A regional collaborative guiding and advancing a systems change that will prioritize equitable opportunities for our youngest community members and their caregivers to connect with nature will be invaluable. We aim to identify ways to meaningfully engage a diverse assemblage of professionals, trusted community advocates and neighbors in activating Dubuque's system of neighborhood parks and neighborhood schools, reflecting the needs of the residents living in these neighborhoods. and to do so through the lens of early childhood nature connection. Dubuque is a place rooted in and proud of our history, we are dedicated to each other, to equity, to proven partnership work, and to our continued growth as a community. With the guidance of the Children and Nature Network, National League of Cities, and Kaboom! as well as our peers, we will take the momentum we are experiencing, and we will accelerate early childhood nature connections in Northeast Iowa. The timing is right for us to build upon this momentum and embed early childhood nature connection into the fabric of our community. Thank you. Masterpiece on the Mississippi September 4, 2024 Dubuque *Hivtn CO V �Tti �ln 11 II1I I I 2007.2012.2013 2017*2019 Office of the Mayor City Hall 50 West 13'h Street Dubuque, IA 52001-4845 www.cityofdubuque.org Dear Members of the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community Review Committee, It is with great pleasure that I share that at last evening's City Council meeting the City Council and myself unanimously approved the City's commitment to the Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community program. We have appointed Leisure Services Director Marie Ware as our representative. The Nature Everywhere movement aligns well with numerous plans and initiatives of the city. The City's comprehensive plan Imagine Dubuque 2037 connects closely in numerous areas of the plan. A year of community engagement and outreach during this planning effort over 12,500 ideas from all sectors of the community. In the area of environmental integrity promotion of a health urban forest and native plantings, encouragement of edible landscaping and continued community gardens as well as increasing eco-education programming, particularly for children were called out. In the area of social and cultural vibrancy a focus on expanding access to healthy foods, promoting healthy lifestyles, and enhancing event access and participant diversity were suggested by residents. The action plan calls for updating the parks and recreation plan and we committed funding, and the process of a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan will begin at the end of the year and would complement the Nature Everywhere visioning and planning work. The action plan also calls out increasing native plant, pollinator and edible landscaping, conserving natural areas, supporting food production spaces, expand childcare options and resources, and more. Dubuque has been proactive in working in our lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods by investing major renovations for example in Comiskey Park. We currently have a grant request pending to complete Phase 2 which will enhance the park even more with a native planting area, many native plants in beds, and lots of trees. Jackson Park is also set for renovation in 2025. The timing and location of both parks meet the many goals of the city yet also overlay into Nature Everywhere in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. We share often that Dubuque is the place where people, planning, and partnerships are how we make things happen. We are striving to be an equitable community of choice using five pillars — resiliency, sustainability, equity, transparency and compassion. We hope you will consider Dubuque as a choice for a Nature Everywhere Accelerator Community. We wholeheartedly support this application and have appointed our Leisure Services Director Marie Ware to our local committee. Sincerely, Brad Cavanagh Mayor