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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - May 2026 Monthly Project HighlightsContact the City Clerk's Office at 515-239-5105 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 Report compiled by Taylor Swanson, Deputy City Clerk City Clerk's Office MAY 2026 MONTHLY PROJECTHIGHLIGHTS LIBRARY Free Eye Exams & Glasses: Ames Public Library is partnering with Vision to Learn again this summer to offer no-cost eye exams and free glasses to children in grades K-12. Families can sign up for a free eye exam on June 4, June 18, July 16, or August 13. If glasses are needed, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled to recieve free glasses. Sign up at https://vtliowa.intakeq.com/booking. Appointments are required and walk-ins will not be accepted. Plant a Seed, Read: It is summer time, and that means a whole lot of activity at Ames Public Library! •All ages can earn free prizes by tracking their reading in the Summer Reading Challenge starting June 1! (amespubliclibrary.beanstack.org) •There are tons of activities to keep children and teens busy, engaged, and learning while school is out. (www.AmesPL.or/events) •Adults can also enjoy a variety of programs, from book clubs to board games to local history! (www.AmesPL.or/events) •The Bookmobile will visit a variety of events and camps over the summer, including the Ames Juneteenth Celebration, monthly stops at the Downtown Ames Farmers’ Market, and more! SUN Meals Fuel Summer Smiles: Free nutritious meals and snacks will be served at the Library this summer, weekdays from June 8 through August 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids and teens 18 and younger can enjoy healthy food, make summer memories, and meet new friends! Lunch is free to all youth 18 years and younger; meals for adults accompanying youth are $5.15. Supported by the United States Food and Nutrition Service SUN Meals and Ames Public Library Friends Foundation. 2 PARKS & RECREATION Ada Hayden Heritage Park Crawdaddy Rentals: The City of Ames Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with CrawDaddy Outdoors to offer rental kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Rentals will be available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting. Rental rates are $20 per hour for single kayaks and SUPs, and $30 per hour for tandem kayaks, canoes, and pedal-drive kayaks. Ada Hayden Heritage Park Mini Shelter Renovation: The Iowa State University Associated General Contractors Club (ISU AGC) assisted in the renovation of three mini shelters at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in late April. Work included demolition of the existing roofing and bench materials and installing new metal roofs. ISU AGC has assisted on multiple small projects within the parks over the last ten years. Ada Hayden Heritage Park Workday: City staff along with the members of the Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park hosted a workday in late April. The work included removing volunteer vegetation along the lake banks adjacent to the pedestrian bridge over the lake. There were approximately 20 individuals that assisted with the workday. Arbor Day Tree Planting: In recognition of Arbor Day, crews and volunteers planted 70 trees in the Welbeck/Brickman neighborhood on April 26, using funding from a grant provided by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service. The City is also planting 50 replacement trees across the community for trees removed during the previous year. 3 Auditorium: The 2025-26 Fifth and Clark Fridays series wrapped up April 24 with performances by The Weary Ramblers and Beggars Bargain. The show drew the largest audience in the history of the Fifth and Clark series, with 210 paid admissions. On April 25, the auditorium hosted its first ’80s Night party featuring Megaballad performing ’80s hair band hits and Lani playing a variety of ’80s pop songs. More than 200 paid admissions were recorded for the concert, making it the largest attendance for a tribute band event hosted by Parks and Recreation. Daley Park Splash Pad: Staff is waiting for approval from the State of Iowa regarding the permit to construct the Daley Park Splash Pad Project. Once approval is received, TK Concrete, of Pella, IA, will start construction. City staff will be constructing the mechanical building for the project in June. The project is expected to be completed in July 2026. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Open House: Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center will host an open house from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 30. Visitors can tour the walking track, multipurpose and party/training rooms, and locker areas. Visitors may view the natatorium from the lobby and party rooms, but pool deck access will not be available. Homewood Golf Course: As of May 20, 2026, Homewood Golf Course has had 6,231 rounds played. During the same time frame last year, there were 6,441 rounds. Homewood opened on March 28 in 2025 and on March 30 in 2026. Sixty Forward Golf League started Monday, May 4. It has 12 teams registered, with 24 participants. This is an increase from seven teams in 2025. Mother’s Day was May 10, and moms played free with a paying customer. A total of eight mothers took advantage of the free golf offer. Below is information related to the Homewood Clubhouse rentals: July 1, 2024 – May 20, 2025 July 1, 2025 –May 20, 2026 Paid Event Hours 142.25 144.50 Paid Event Revenue $14,738.25 $14,769.50 Non-Paid Event Hours 132 139.50 Ontario Park Open House: The Parks and Recreation Department hosted an open house for Ontario Park on Saturday, May 9. Over two hundred people attended and traversed the property and presented staff with feedback that will be used to assist in planning for the development of the park. 4 Parkview Park Playground Project: Play-Pro Recreation, of Des Moines, IA, completed installation of the new playground on the north side of Parkview Park. Staff will now complete final grades in preparation for the playground border and installation of the engineered wood fiber. That work will take place from the end of May into early June. Prescribed Burn and Storm Cleanup: Staff conducted a prescribed burn of 22 acres at Moore Memorial Park west of Ioway Creek and completed five days of storm response and cleanup following severe weather May 17-18. Steven L. Schainker Plaza: The State of Iowa conducted a final inspection on May 27 for the Steven L. Schainker Plaza Spray Pad. Passing this inspection, along with written verification from the design team that all punch list items are complete, will help staff determine the opening of the Plaza. Staff is also installing several concrete pads for benches prior to opening, which is expected to happen in June.