Committees

MHNA volunteers lead several committees to help advance neighborhood goals and priorities. We always welcome new volunteers to join any of our committees. And if you do not see a committee that you think MHNA should have, please contact us and we will be happy to consider starting a new one.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE: MHNA’s social committee plans our key events and celebrations each year. Our big events include: Merle HayDay, which is our annual neighborhood celebration; National Night Out, America’s Night Out Against Crime; and MHNA’s annual entry in the Beaverdale Fall Festival parade. For more information on MHNA’s social committee, please contact April Wyss at abeck@shazam.net, or (515) 707-6386.

COMMUNICATIONS: MHNA’s communications committee is responsible for managing the association’s website, newsletters, and social media. We also coordinate with businesses who are interested in advertising on the website or newsletter. For more information on the communications committee, please contact Jason Pulliam at jason.pulliam@gmail.com, or (515) 681-9689.

BEAUTIFICATION: MHNA’s beautification committee members maintain association flowerbeds. MHNA volunteers tend flowerbeds at the following locations:

  • Cummins Parkway and University Avenue.
  • Urbandale Avenue and 57th Street.
  • Urbandale Avenue and 49th Street.
  • Tower Park, located at 50th Street and Merle Hay Road.
  • Intersection of Merle Hay Road, Merklin Way, and Hickman Road.
  • Des Moines Water Works’ Tenny Standpipe at Merle Hay Road and Madison Avenue.

For more information about the beautification committee, please contact Kathy Battles at kmbattles@msn.com.

TREES: MHNA’s tree committee coordinates neighborhood tree plantings. We have led tree planting projects at Moore Elementary School, Hillis Elementary School, and Windsor Elementary School. The committee’s goal is to complement the city’s broader efforts to protect and expand the urban forest. Our work will primarily focus on planting opportunities on public properties, such as city parks, neighborhood schools, and public rights-of-way. If you are interested in serving as chair for the tree committee, please send an email to merlehayneighborhood@gmail.com.