King Irving Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Recognition for King Irving Spurs Call ...

... for RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT

King Irving neighborhood leaders, including Ward Iutzi, want it know that when it comes to some of the larger decisions made about the neighborhood, there's ample room for more voices. Plain and simple, Iutzi, the King Irving Neighborhood Association Vice President, says the group agrees that "people who often have a voice in this neighborhood are the ones who go to the neighborhood association meetings."

He points to projects such as teh upcoming renovation of Evelyn Davis Park or moneys potentially available for revitalization through the Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods initiative. Those moneys are sponsored by Thrivent Finanial for Lutherans, Habitat for Humanity, and the City of Des Moines. While each of the potential projects has many powerful players, Iutzi is keenly aware that they also rely on input from the residents who live in the neighborhood.

A resident of King Irving since 2000, Iutzi led the tree planting project that took place there in 2006. The Des Moines Neighbors, the umbrella group for all Des Moines neighborhood Associations, selected the project to represent the city in the Neighborhood of the Year competition sponsored by Neighbors USA. The neighborhood placed second nationally in the Physical Revitalization category.

Lutzi says the effort was valuable beyond neighborhood beautification, because the trees served as ambassadors, bringing people out of their homes and making many aware that a neighborhood association existed.

"I had no idea how much people like trees. We were out planting, and it turns out we got a lot of good will established as well," he says.

Like trees, Iutzi says that he'd gladly nuture more involvement in the association and the many issues they're asked to weigh in on. But he says individuals need to take the initiative to get involved.

"People sometimes get mad when a decision is made at a neighborhood association meeting that affects them, and they didn't weigh in," he says. "But the voices who are heard and are getting things done are the ones who come to meetings. People need to come!"