Friends Of Noelridge

In 2008, the Friends of Noelridge, a non-profit 501C3 organization, was created to support the operations of the Noelridge Greenhouse. In the beginning, board members recruited volunteers to serve as docents at greenhouse spring showcases, tour guides for school and other tours, and to help with transplanting, potting and clipping in the greenhouses. 

As news spread and more people joined, the board began raising funds to help purchase items that were not in the greenhouse budget.  Projects included a kiosk, with bricks around it sold and engraved for those who invested in Noelridge Park, and memorials. The organization raised money for, planned and built the Hosta Garden shade structure with the help of an Eagle Scout project. They also built and provide the books for a mini library that can be found at the entrance of the gardens.

The Friends of Noelridge organization was instrumental in planning, designing, planting, weeding and maintaining the beds that won the All-American Selection Landscape Design Contests in 2015 and 2016.  They also take care of the Monarch Research Station Butterfly Tent at the park that releases hundreds of butterflies every year. The organization maintains a web site and a Facebook page where they keep people updated on activities at Noelridge Greenhouse.

The volunteers that come to the greenhouse can experience a warm, fun learning experience in many different areas.  Their main “job” is to work with others in the community to provide assistance in propagating and nurturing thousands of plants that will beautify Cedar Rapids every year.

Through staff changes, the pandemic, the derecho and ADA improvements, Friends of Noelridge have stepped up whenever needed. The City of Cedar Rapids, Parks and Recreation Department and greenhouse staff cannot thank them enough!

For more information about the Friends organization or volunteering at the greenhouse, visit friendsofnoelridge.com or follow the Friends of Noelridge Facebook page. To ask questions about volunteering, contact the organization’s volunteer coordinator, Diane Stevens, at 319-270-3832 or by email at mamadi319@aol.com.