A new Kalona subdivision is continuing to see progress as the year comes to a close.

Washington County Conservation received the Trees for Kids grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to plant 150 trees in the new Southtown subdivision in Kalona. Conservation Executive Director Zach Rozmus says that the majority of the trees are white oaks that are in excess of 100 years old. He explains why they chose oaks to be the majority of the trees in the subdivision, “So we want to make sure that we’re kind of interjecting that next generation of oak species in there too. So that way in the event that we do have sudden oak death in the future, we can make sure that we’re starting the next generation of trees as well.”

Rozmus added that they received the trees around Thanksgiving which  have since been planted. In the past year, the subdivision has added 85 residential lots with the first occupancy permit issued this month. In spring of 2022, Kalona hopes to add a 1.5 mile walking trail, dog park, 9-hole disc golf course, public fishing access, and a naturescape park.