Petition Against Housing Development Grows

WATERLOO, Ia (KWWL) —  One public park could be getting a makeover and that’s attracting a lot of attention in the Waterloo community.

There are a handful of parks in Waterloo that are being considered for housing developments

One of the neighbors at the Waterloo parks got over 700 signatures online and 200 on paper against developments in Prairie Prove Park.

Prairie Grove Park is filled with kids and parents on this particular evening.

But this same place for play is being considered for a housing development by the city.

Jeff Driver, 1 of 5 community members who started a petition against a housing development here, and lives close by, has cards that say SavePrairieGrovePark.com

“I don’t think the right use of this space is housing development.  This is a growing area,” Driver said.

Waterloo Planning Director Noel Anderson is aware of the opposition.

“We don’t want to eliminate any parks the parks obviously benefit to bring housing development to bring sports recreation for families to use nearby, go out, walk your dog, throw a frisbee,” Anderson said.

Driver makes it a point that it’s not just him.

“We’ve had this petition circulating for less than a week and by this weekend, I predict we will have over a thousand signatures,”  Driver said. “Everyone’s in support of keeping the park the way that it is today.”

Anderson says council is still wanting to gain public input.There will be a leisure services meeting on it next Tuesday morning at 7 at City Hall.

Jasmine Adous, KWWL Reporter