SPARK Consulting

09/02/2026

Planning for Preservation project successfully wrapped up for Keokuk! The project identified projects and sets priorities for the Keokuk Historic Preservation Commission for the next 5-10 years, as well as identifying the historic themes and potential historic contexts in the community. The black history of Keokuk is particularly interesting in the late 19th century period. The project also involved checking on the current status of the 3,184 previously surveyed properties in Keokuk, which revealed that 889 had been demolished since the 1980s. It also involved adding 1,429 new properties built by 1980 to the inventory for the city, which was a lot of volunteer hours for the Keokuk Historic Preservation Commission. However, they have a very comprehensive inventory of historic resources built from the 1850s to 1980s in Keokuk!

07/28/2026

Looking forward to present in Keokuk on Tuesday evening for the final public meeting of the Planning for Preservation project!

06/25/2026

Did you know that 5% of the REAP funding goes to Historic Resource Development Program (HRDP) grants for historic preservation, museum, and documentary collections? REAP assemblies are your chance to make sure that everyone in the state knows that 5% is important! And, they select delegates for the REAP Congress to shape the future of the program.

Upcoming district REAP Assemblies:
• June 24, 2 p.m., Decorah, Vesterheim Museum, 520 W. Water Street, in Decorah, for residents of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.
• July 8, 3:30 p.m., Iowa City, Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, 4811 Melrose Avenue, in Iowa City, for residents of Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.
• July 8, 5:30 p.m., Dubuque, Eagle Point Park Riverfront Pavilion, Memorial Lane, in Dubuque, for residents of Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties.
• July 9, 12 p.m., Fort Dodge, Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center, 20 N 1st Street, in Fort Dodge, for residents of Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright counties.
• July 21, 10 a.m., Red Oak, Carbaugh Farm, 2575 D. Avenue, in Red Oak, for residents of Fremont, Mills, Montgomery and Page counties.
• July 22, 10 a.m., Burlington, Starr’s Cave Nature Center, 11627 Starrs Cave Park Road, in Burlington, for residents of Des Moines, Henry, Lee and Louisa counties.
• July 23, 1 p.m., Okoboji, Maser Monarch Lodge, 22703 Nature Center Road, in Okoboji, for residents of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto and Sioux Counties.
• July 24, 10 a.m., Dixon, Wapsi River EE Center, 3155 52nd Avenue, in Dixon, for residents of Muscatine and Scott counties.
• July 27, 5 p.m., Winterset, Madison County Conservation Center, 2508 Pammel Park Trail, in Winterset, for residents of Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union counties.
• July 28, 3 p.m., Marshalltown, Gallery Garden, 135 E. Main Street, in Marshalltown, for residents of Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek and Tama counties.
• July 30, 2 p.m., Churdan, Pudenz Farm, 351 130th Street, in Churdan, for residents of Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and Sac counties.

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"Every two years, Iowans gather for regional assemblies to direct the future of our state’s natural and cultural resources. This year we are reimagining the assembly by putting local voices and proven projects that have transformed our communities and improved quality of life at the center of the conversation,” said Michelle Wilson, REAP coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “This is your chance to learn about REAP, connect with like-minded citizens who are interested in natural and cultural resource work, and voice how REAP can better serve your community and your region

https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/resource-enhancement-protection-reap
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Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) is a program that invests in the enhancement and protection of the state's natural and cultural resources.

06/18/2026

Traveled to Decorah this week to take Part 3 (after) photographs for the Relf House for the state historic tax credit application. Excellent job by the owner/developer of making some needed improvements to ensure the longevity of this house in a historic district in Decorah. With single-family homes being eliminated from the state historic tax credit program in May 2025, unfortunately projects like this one no longer qualify, which is resulting in other historic homes in Iowa sitting vacant and deteriorating as rehab is often not financially feasible without state historic tax credits. Hopefully, that change might be reversed in the future!

06/05/2026

FORUM 2026, the biennial conference of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, is coming up soon on July 24-26 in Minneapolis! This national conference is close enough this year for an easy drive from Iowa and other Midwestern states, and it is a chance to connect with and learn from people working with historic preservation commissions across the country. The main conference runs from Friday to Sunday, with pre-conference trainings, seminars, and tours on Wednesday and Thursday. Look forward to seeing lots of people there!

https://forum.napcommissions.org/

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The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) mission of helping to build strong local preservation programs and leaders through education, training and advocacy is the driving force behind FORUM, the only national conference focused on the issues facing local historic preservation boards and commissions. FORUM includes dozens of educational sessions and discussion panels, mobile workshops and tours, and five days of non-stop networking for historic preservation commissioners, staff and volunteers representing local, state and national organizations and government agencies.

https://forum.napcommissions.org/

NAPC’s FORUM is the only conference of its kind – focused specifically on the concerns and educational needs of preservation commissions, their staff, and surrounding communities. This interactive conference blends traditional educational sessions with roundtable discussions, mobile workshops, a...

06/05/2026

Spent a couple days in Ankeny earlier this week for the Preserve Iowa Summit... interesting keynote on the Campaign for Historic Trades, great reception by Preservation Iowa, good educational sessions, and fantastic to catch up with many familiar faces!

05/20/2026

Nice to be back in downtown Mount Pleasant yesterday for the public meeting on the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places... and had a good group of residents to hear the presentation. The nomination is slated for review at the State Nomination Review Committee in June so approaching the end of this project that has spanned portions of four years since the initial public meeting on the survey project!

05/18/2026

Looking forward to speaking about the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places on Monday evening at 6:30 in Union Block in downtown Mount Pleasant!
https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/mt-pleasant/news/meeting-on-proposed-mount-pleasant-downtown-historic-district-may-18/article_1c86a1b5-4ff4-44fa-9f09-117790882b44.html
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A public hearing for the proposed Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District will take place May 18 at Union Block, offering community members an opportunity to learn about the historic district,

05/12/2026

Three weeks left to register for the Preserve Iowa Summit in Ankeny on June 2-3, the statewide historic preservation conference for Iowa! Discount codes available for members of CLGs/HPCs and for members of Preservation Iowa. Schedule and more information at the link below. Who will I see there???
https://web.cvent.com/event/15fb3f27-c3e4-4975-9570-c3263f2ee0cd/websitePage%3A3e2be775-d401-41ce-b3e4-f454309ac181

04/03/2026

Still time to submit a nomination for the Preservation at Its Best awards from Preservation Iowa! See below for categories related to historic preservation project and people who make an impact!