In the 1960s, as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Dee Norton led 
the City in an unparalleled quest to build for the future with a major expansion 
to the Iowa City park system. This visionary project – and the volunteer efforts 
of Dee and other Commissioners – changed the direction of the City’s approach to 
parklands by first convincing citizens of the importance of a strong park system 
to meet future needs of the community, and then soliciting their support for a 
bond issue that would provide the necessary funding.

More than forty years later, Dee and his wife Carrie once again demonstrated 
their passion for the City’s park system with a financial donation to Friends of 
Hickory Hill Park (FHHP) that helped the group meet the purchase price for the 
16-acre Dickens Preserve that abuts the northernmost section of the park. In 
addition to their contribution for the land purchase, the Nortons will donate 
funds to the City’s Parks and Recreation Foundation for construction of a 
belvedere – a small outdoor nature pavilion – at Hickory Hill. The structure, 
which is being designed by local architect Bill Nowysz, will include benches for 
relaxation and reflection, as well as informational displays on the park’s 
prairie restoration efforts, its role as a wildlife corridor, and information on 
the park’s flora, fauna, and woodland and riverbank environments.

The contribution to the FHHP fundraising drive is a fitting sequel to efforts 
Dee Norton initiated years ago as Chairman of the Iowa City Parks & Recreation 
Commission. In the mid-1960s, there hadn’t been any expansion to the City’s park 
system for 50 years – nor were there any plans to do so. The situation became 
even more critical, Dee Norton explained, when the commissioners realized the 
City was “running out of land,” as available properties throughout the City and 
along its boundaries were being purchased by developers for new housing projects. 
In 1965, Norton and other commissioners jumpstarted the City’s park expansion 
efforts by proposing a $745,000 bond issue for park land acquisition, creation 
of recreational facilities, and improvements to City Park. Not certain whether 
it would pass – “There wasn’t much bonding at that time for capital projects, 
and it was a substantial amount of money,” Dee Norton explained – the 
commissioners trusted that the citizens of Iowa City would have the foresight to 
recognize it was “now or never” for expanding the park system to meet the needs 
of future generations.

The community demonstrated its support by approving the bond issue, and 
subsequently, land for four parks – Hickory Hill (185 acres), Mercer (30.5 
acres), Willow Creek (27.2 acres), and Terrell Mill (17.6 acres) – was 
purchased. The bond issue also provided funds for development of recreational 
facilities, including five new playgrounds, a pool and tennis center at Mercer 
Park, and improvements to City Park, including new concession stands and bleachers.

Each of the four parks has experienced transition in the 40 years since they 
were purchased. Amenities at Hickory Hill Park, for example, now include hiking 
and jogging paths, nature study opportunities, picnic shelters, picnic tables, 
cooking grills, water, and restrooms. Construction of the belvedere will add yet 
another feature for residents and visitors to enjoy in this well-loved park.
 
The work of the Parks & Recreation Commission more than 40 years ago and the 
bond referendum they put forth also helped transition the attitude toward 
ongoing acquisition of park land. Since the bond issue, new parks have been 
steadily added to the City’s park system. Today there are a total of 40 parks 
located throughout the City. Through their contribution, the Nortons hope to 
focus attention on another turning point for Iowa City’s park system as the 
Parks and Recreation Department is wrapping up work on its first ever Master 
Plan. The result of substantial input from Iowa City residents, the park master 
plan is intended to direct the next 40 years of park development. It includes 
the results of a community interest survey that quantifies the community’s 
desire for parks, and especially popular support for natural areas and trails.

Their latest philanthropic gift is characteristic of both of the Nortons – Dee, 
an Associate Professor Emeritus who served as Chair of the University of Iowa 
Psychology Department, and Carrie, now retired from a career as a Special 
Education Consultant – who have made a considerable investment in Iowa City with 
decades of service and involvement. For this highly engaged couple, part of what 
sets a community apart as a special place are the volunteers who invest their 
time and energy in projects, organizations, local government, and causes that 
build and strengthen the community and connect the people who call it “home.” 
For Dee, community activism has led to seats on the Parks and Recreation 
Commission, the City Council, the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, and a 
variety of other civic projects, including early work on bike trails planning, 
working with local youth as a Little League coach, and years of volunteer 
service for his church, the Unitarian Universalist Society. For Carrie, public 
service has included work with the Chamber Leadership Program, board seats with 
United Way and the Youth Development Task Force, and a variety of human 
service-related efforts.

Karin Franklin, who retired last summer as the City’s Director of Planning and 
Community Development Department and who worked closely with Dee Norton when he 
served on the City Council from 1996-1999, expressed her admiration for the 
Nortons when she learned of their gifts for the park.
“Dee and Carrie have been devoted to a variety of aspects of this community for 
years, always to benefit Iowa City and make it a special place. It does not 
surprise me in the least that they would continue giving to the community in 
such a generous way,” she said, adding that the pavilion would serve as a 
pleasant reminder of the Nortons’ contributions to Iowa City, and also set “a 
great example to the rest of us.”
“This is a great place to live and it doesn’t happen by chance,” Carrie Norton 
concluded. “The way you make a community is to mobilize. A community becomes 
wonderful because people invest themselves and make it happen.”
 
[SIDEBAR]
Friends of Hickory Hill Park undertake fundraising projects for park support

Friends of Hickory Hill Park, a volunteer organization that supports the park 
through efforts to preserve it as a natural area and an urban sanctuary, set a 
goal last year to purchase the Dickens Preserve, 16 acres of sensitive 
environmental land that abuts current park boundaries and includes a low wetland 
as well as wooded and open areas.

Last summer, the group initiated a $200,000 fundraising campaign, with $160,000 
targeted for the purchase of the Dickens property and $40,000 designated for a 
land stewardship fund to be used for park restoration. The campaign received a 
major shot in the arm in November, when an anonymous donor offered a challenge 
grant, promising to match each donation dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000.

The challenge helped bring in thousands of dollars in donations ranging from $10 
to $2,500 from local individuals, businesses and organizations, as well as from 
donors across the United States. Nevertheless, FHHP was still shy of its goal 
until Dee and Carrie Norton stepped forward with a donation that completed the 
fundraising for the purchase price of the preserve. FHHP continues its 
fundraising efforts for the land stewardship fund.

The preserve will be purchased by FHHP, but will be held in a private trust by 
the Johnson County Heritage Trust.
Terry Trueblood, Director of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, praised 
the Friends organization and its efforts to purchase the Dickens property. “If 
it weren’t for Friends of Hickory Hill Park,” he said, “this newest land 
acquisition would not have happened. They deserve all the credit.”

He continued his praise for the group by saying that while he appreciates the 
efforts and work of FHHP, he is also grateful for the cooperative and successful 
working relationship the Parks Department has developed with the organization. 
“When this group first formed, I was a little bit leery because sometimes groups 
are not so easy to work with. But Friends of Hickory Hill Park has been great. 
They have the best interests of the park at heart, but they also realize the 
importance of the entire park system.”

At its March meeting, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously 
endorsed the concept of the pavilion the Nortons have proposed for Hickory Hill 
Park, and thanked the couple and two officers of the Friends of Hickory Hill 
Park organization – Chair C.J. Voci and Secretary Sarah Walz – for their efforts 
on the latest park projects.