A ribbon cutting, and a visit from Iowa’s Agriculture Secretary, marked the completion of a project designed to help Pleasantville with both future expansion, and water and soil conservation.

The city welcomed Secretary Mike Naig to the site near its sports complex near the high school on Wednesday afternoon; the city has finished a project designed to help with stormwater issues, while improving soil and land quality.

A new parking lot near the complex has permeable pavement, which allows more water to soak into the ground and leaves less to run off after a rainstorm. Students from Pleasantville High School also helped plant native prairie plants into bioretention cells, which serve much the same purpose and are designed to help the land better absorb water.

The city obtained funding for this project through a state revolving fund, and Secretary Naig tells KNIA/KRLS News this project will not only benefit nature, but help the city as it develops and builds its population.

“You’re standing kind of on the edge of town here, there’ll be development around this; this is exactly what we encourage cities to do, is to work with our urban conservationists to plan ahead,” Secretary Naig says.

“It’s easier to do this investment up front, it’s easier to put this infrastructure in place up front and then let things develop around this.”

The city offered a demonstration during the ceremony, pouring water from a fire truck and showing how quickly the runoff is absorbed into the lot or runs into the bioretention cells.

Secretary Naig also had an opportunity to see the school’s FFA livestock farm and greenhouse; the farm hosted fourth and fifth grade students, who were given tips on farm and home safety…and students at the greenhouse showed how they have developed their own business selling plants grown inside.