Hunter
09/06/22
A joint application is being prepared to improve water and trail access to the Iowa River in Johnson County.
The Gazette reports that with the help of Think Iowa City, the cities of Coralville and Iowa City, along with Johnson County, are preparing a nearly $6 million application to the state’s Destination Iowa program that will be submitted in the coming weeks. Proposed projects include a new park in Coralville south of the Iowa River Power restaurant, a skatepark renovation at Iowa City’s Terrell Mill Park, new boat ramps, and a 2.5 mile Clear Creek Trail connection out to Kent Park.
Nick Pfeiffer is Vice President of Public Affairs at Think Iowa City. He tells the paper that the projects are shovel-ready, and construction could begin within 12 months of funding. 40 percent of the funding would go to Coralville, 35 percent to the County, and the remaining 25 percent to Iowa City.
The Project Better Together 2030 group aims to utilize the Iowa River to its full potential and make it a “peddle-paddle” destination in the Midwest. They hired Cady Sinnwell Gerlach, a local lawyer who previously was the director of strategic operations at Shelter House, to be their Executive Director effective August 1st.
The Destination Iowa program has set aside $100 million in available grant money to help communities move forward on shovel-ready attractions. They’ve recently awarded North Liberty funds to do an upgrade to Centennial Park and Dyersville to expand their Field of Dreams site.
