Tree planting replenishes Monona’s urban forest

By Audrey Posten | Times-Register

Monona’s urban forest recently grew by 30 trees thanks to a community planting effort.

From Sept. 26 to 27, nearly 40 volunteers—including members of the MFL MarMac National Honor Society, St. Paul Lutheran Church and Monona Volunteer Fire Department as well as city officials, public works staff and other residents—chipped in.

“It was kind of overwhelming,” acknowledged Bridget Schlein, a Monona city council member and head of the tree committee who spearheaded the effort. “It was nice that people came out to help plant the trees and everybody was excited to do it.”

Schlein has advocated for tree planting in recent years, as Monona’s tree population was decimated by the emerald ash borer and storm damage. 

“Even just looking at my own neighborhood, we had at least four trees we had to take down because of the emerald ash borer. Then, all of a sudden, our nice, shady neighborhood doesn’t have nearly as many trees. It was just something I thought was important—that we start replanting somehow, some way,” Schlein said.

In 2022, the city worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to complete an urban forestry management plan that offered guidance on trees to replace and plant in the next five years. 

Eight trees were planted in 2023, but Schlein didn’t feel it kept up with the rate trees were being removed. Fellow council members and the mayor agreed it was time to do more.

With advice from Ian Zahren, who was then running for state house and had extensive grant writing experience, Schlein formed a tree committee last fall and submitted a grant application to Alliant Energy in late October. A $3,325 grant was awarded in February 2025, and Monona received funding to purchase trees from Outdoor Creations in the spring. The city provided $1,000 in matching funds.

Schlein said Alliant Energy has a goal to plant 1 million trees in Iowa and Wisconsin by 2030. Their grant program is run and administered by Trees Forever and specifically focuses on planting trees in the public right of way—parks, libraries, community buildings, along city streets. 

The tree committee relied on guidance from the DNR plan and Trees Forever in selecting tree species, and cross referenced those lists with what was available from Outdoor Creations.

“The DNR study showed that 49 percent of our trees in the public right of way are of the maple variety. So if we get a disease that comes through maple trees, we’re really going to be hurting,” Schlein said. “They recommended several types of trees, and we took two of their recommendations for trees (honey locust and linden basswood) when we applied for the grant and when we were selecting species.”

Hackberries, snow crab apples and river birches were also selected. City funds helped purchase two century lindens and two elms.

“We added two of those at Gateway Park and two of those at the dog park. They’re going to grow bigger,” Schlein said.

Planting was primarily focused around city buildings, including the library and fire station. At the community center, two trees were added where ash trees were previously taken down.

“Then we looked at our parks,” said Schlein. “The dog park obviously looked a little sad without any trees in it, so we selected that location, as well as trees at Gateway Park and the city park. We’ve taken down a number of trees in the city park the last few years.” 

The committee also pinpointed street locations—on South Egbert near St. Paul’s, by the lumber yard and behind the co-op—where trees would not interfere with power or gas lines. 

Schlein said the committee opted not to plant the trees until this fall to avoid summer watering and to let them settle before winter. She appreciates Outdoor Creations for caring for them over the summer.

“They had offered to do that, and it was great,” she stated. “In the spring, we’ll be adding watering bags and making sure to water the first couple of years. That’s really a critical time, in hopes that the trees make it and start growing next year.”

Along with their guidance and care, Outdoor Creations donated use of their auger for the tree planting. MB Construction provided a Bobcat, tools were utilized from the Butterfly Garden shed and public works director Adam Jones offered two trailers and a tractor for the project. 

“I really owe a lot to Adam for the logistical planning of the actual planting itself and the city crew. They did a great job supporting the project,” Schlein shared. 

Another trailer came from mayor Grant Langhus, who also provided instruction on tree planting. The Monona Volunteer Fire Department watered the newly planted trees with their pumper.

“It was nice to have people donate. It made things a lot easier as well, having all of that equipment available,” said Schlein.

She admitted it might be a couple of years before Monona undertakes another big tree planting project. The city—and committee—will continue to evaluate how to support the urban forest. 

“We’ll look to see where we can add trees,” Schlein said, “and there’s definitely other grants out there that we may look at in the future.”