- Posted By: Brendan Schnoebelen
- July 18, 2026 @ 6:40 am
- Today’s Local News
Photo Courtesy of the City of Riverside Social Media
The future Riverside Wellness Center has drawn the attention of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the Wellness Center will receive approximately $89,975 for its planned water quality practices.
The water project the Wellness Center will use includes three biorentention cells designed to manage runoff from new impervious surfaces and additional upstream runoff. The conservation features will also provide educational opportunities for the public, including students from the nearby Highland Elementary School. This will be Riverside’s first demonstration of integrating green infrastructure into community development
Riverside City Administrator Cole Smith shares details, “A bioretention cell is where the water will collect and filter through to remove pollutants and making sure that our groundwaters and our water table stays at a clean place. With that being said, there’ll be some signage that’s out there to educate community members about this program and about storm water and how that works.”
According to the IDALS, to receive state funding, projects must include strong local partnerships and education and outreach components that help raise awareness and encourage broader adoption of conservation practices. In total, Naig announced $644,925 in funding toward four projects throughout the state
