The City of Ames Parks and Recreation Department provides the opportunity for individuals, businesses, and organizations to donate memorials within our park system. Memorials may be designated in the following areas: Memorial Tree Program, Memorial Bench Program, and General Donations. For larger monetary donations, opportunities are available for park naming and major park amenities. We encourage interested individuals and/ or businesses and organizations to contact City staff to discuss ideas for locations of memorials. Final memorial locations will be dependent on the needs of the department and areas already identified in our Park Master Plan.

For more information, contact Joshua Thompson, Parks and Facilities Superintendent, at 515-239-5364 or joshua.thompson@cityofames.org

Memorial Tree Program. The Memorial Tree Program provides individuals and organizations with the opportunity to honor loved ones and/or commemorate special events by planting trees in City parks. Businesses may wish to dedicate a tree to an outstanding employee or upon reaching certain milestones. Other organizations may want to dedicate a tree as a living asset to the surrounding community. The City of Ames has an extensive parks system and is continually growing. Trees are a great way to increase the beauty of our city and provide countless benefits to the community. Contributions for trees are gratefully accepted and are used to purchase, plant, and maintain trees in the Ames parks system. Memorial tree requests are accepted year round; however, trees are only planted in the spring or fall to maximum young tree health and development. Tree selection is based on location and tree species diversity.  Memorial Tree Program Approved Species List

Memorial Bench Program. The Memorial Bench Program provides an opportunity to commemorate a special person or occasion with the placement of a bench that enhances our community’s parks. The cost of adopting a memorial bench in our parks system is $2,000. Each bench will have a plaque with text approved by the City. All bench adoptions are for a 20 year renewable term and will receive maintenance consistent with department standards throughout the 20 year term. Damaged or vandalized benches will be repaired or replaced by the City of Ames Parks and Recreation through the life of the adoption.

General Donations. General Donations are undesignated and used to best meet current parks system needs as determined by the Parks and Recreation Director and the Parks and Recreation Commission. From time to time, the department may accept donations for a specific project to benefit the community.

Park Naming. For information regarding the Park Master Plan, future park expansion, and possible naming opportunities, please contact Keith Abraham, Parks and Recreation Director, at 515-239-5349 or keith.abraham@cityofames.org

Park Amenities. Throughout the park system there are many amenities that make each City of Ames park unique. They include shelters, play structures, art sculptures, etc. Please contact staff for information about park amenity donation opportunities.