[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6071013,"mediaKeyId","3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a","parentId",3048317,"title","Parks staff outline spring projects, tree plantings and volunteer partnerships; city wins Tree City USA recognition","audioSeconds",341,"startMs",1090000,"endMs",1431000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a&start=1090&end=1431","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a/thumbnail_1090000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6071013/Iowa-City/Johnson-County/Iowa/Parks-staff-outline-spring-projects-tree-plantings-and-volunteer-partnerships-city-wins-Tree-City-USA-recognition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071013-bd699e9c08ff5e4daad16d853422b836/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182493&Signature=IMJ14xQOTLtn-1h-f1mgnLgeH3--kdfE~BCOKe5cQDn6F6f~cPPOCm7tGuqA5Js-KBn6jK8BZVrbAfYR0HW8U2ABgrjgUgdd9JCs82b0XzU8Q22DB~hCl2pwp9x2~mFctd79flupQWSp0vsLTjgcOhj315qa3ZuR7QuYfSeXeOSgDWmq7nAhtGbLZtDLZT-AQMm1o6~PJfXPv~KVQesPD1i8Z0hgUZLbIBrGOqjf0WRsjRnYgxfQNexjybFjsWz5rzFnwEDtpV2DFdwCfapt1IXlZzfSC03yES~vVTRXAz7ErYtmaM2U-pfelgQhQE98gGJYznjYku~0O6Vg7zthEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Iowa City ","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","Tyler, a parks staff member, summarized a range of spring projects and volunteer partnerships, including tree removal and prairie restoration work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Sand Prairie and a $600 corporate donation and volunteer work from Big Grove at Riverfront Crossings Park.

Tyler said the city has multiple tree orders from several nurseries for fall planting and noted a $10,000 state grant to support planting in the Normandy Drive neighborhood (referred to as Mosquito Flats). He said master gardeners and Rotary volunteers will help with plantings; Tyler said the city typically receives community forestry grants from the state Department of Natural Resources and estimated the city averages about $25,000 a year in tree grants.

Park improvement projects underway include a playground installation at College Green (playground hardware being installed with ancillary work scheduled through mid-fall), grading and a new trail at Calder Park, staged work at Brooklyn Park, and staging at Adelaide Joy Rogers Park. Tyler also outlined bids out for Sycamore Greenway work tied to a REAP grant and bridge decking replacement at First Avenue loop in Hickory Hill Park.

Julie and commissioners highlighted that seasonal staffing is nearly complete (about 50–55 seasonal staff expected), restrooms at parks are being opened for the season, and the department is coordinating volunteer events such as West Branch High School’s Earth Day service at Hunters Run Park. The commission also discussed an upcoming parks bus tour scheduled for May 14; staff said the city bus is open to the public and will pick up at the usual location at 5 p.m.

Julie noted she will be out for knee replacement surgery starting April 21 and that Tyler will serve as acting director during her recovery. Staff asked commissioners to expect a longer meeting for the May bus tour, which will include a boxed lunch.

Ending: Staff will provide updates on Sycamore Greenway bids, College Green project timelines, and fall tree-planting schedules; commissioners congratulated Parks staff on professional awards and the department’s continued volunteer partnerships.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff reported volunteer days, riverfront playground improvements, multiple tree-planting grants and projects under way, and said Iowa City received Tree City USA recognition and a growth award.","taxTitle","Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa","taxId",4187,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071018,"City Park Pool project moves forward; contract bids lower than early estimate, pool will be closed this summer",300,604000,904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a&start=604&end=904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a/thumbnail_604000.jpg","/articles/6071018/Iowa-City/Johnson-County/Iowa/City-Park-Pool-project-moves-forward-contract-bids-lower-than-early-estimate-pool-will-be-closed-this-summer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071018-c0f4f5dcb6ffb15477824f3bf4c12de8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182493&Signature=DVRDZ79qt6Si2882W-Zrmf5YDPM4pIBHkGg3lHmQJACXlDrxyWqZkXMyW3V3xA0LJT4N7v~3ehnK53snTov5Z7FYWnmwTaCmX4DdOl5gE3OvwMHIG9zuzzml0C0Zz7T~AssbVyLkDgJzwBPgclu9Qq7OAuJK4zPn8g1XBICiU9nFYFV5xTdyU8gu-X9jkUwdTgyqxbzOnYVNiqjXPv0HUj7LI60b0j8sRW9x7rplRv-gmOrtdvGdLo1brSjgNk9nN0-cCaX~4gd18m3KUdPZidXeWQvduA1w2KbzGVe~gKQoqVGED3OrivCTFYevhYqP1aclQyo9~7t4UFR--c0bAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julie, the Parks and Recreation director, told commissioners that bids for the City Park Pool project “came in closer to $14, but realize we still have the design and consultant fees on top of that and all of our equipment and everything else. So it's still going to end up being closer to that $18,000,000 estimate that we had out front.”

She said staff were able to accept all alternates on the project, and listed features added to the contract: separate heaters for each of the three pools, a UV disinfectant system, both a climbing wall and a third diving board in the diving well, new water main and storm sewer connections, removal of an existing restroom at Upper City Park, additional shade structures, and landscape seating elements.

“We were able to add in a few more [shade structures],” Julie said, and later stated plainly that “officially means that City Park Pool will not be open this summer.” She said a pre-construction meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday to begin the contractor’s work.

Commissioners asked about how heating would be used; Julie said operational policy decisions — including whether to heat particular pools and when — will be determined closer to opening and could be tailored for leisure, lesson, or early-season programming. She said the lap pool historically is kept cooler and that staff had heard lap swimmers’ concerns about warm water.

Julie also said that the City Park Pool project does not immediately change plans for other facilities: discussions about the future of Mercer and Robert A. (facility names referenced in the meeting) are on hold until City Park Pool construction is further along. She said if unusual circumstances occur, staff could reassess, but otherwise operations at the other facilities remain status quo.

Ending: The commission did not vote on any changes to pool programming at this meeting; staff will return with operational plans, schedules for heaters and hours, and further cost details as construction proceeds.","Commission heard details on the City Park Pool construction: bids came in near $14 million versus an $18 million early estimate; alternates including heaters, a UV disinfectant system, a climbing wall and a third diving board were accepted; staff said the pool will be closed this summer while construction proceeds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071023,"Iowa City staff propose names, signage for Highway 1 and Highway 6 trail connection",338,43000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a&start=43&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048317-4c342c90bab7d21415ed827658d6372a/thumbnail_43000.jpg","/articles/6071023/Iowa-City/Johnson-County/Iowa/Iowa-City-staff-propose-names-signage-for-Highway-1-and-Highway-6-trail-connection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071023-8ee2ed30b3df5c467e6eab569e75ec96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182493&Signature=OYWR816FrlJnDUlEdY2h~OOm09FUTMsed0nHX6VH8IIx8Q3gINCglees4OKZBuS8GQo0mQxcOzG30dNXg1pdnpigOn-SGXFJo5yL0qm8QySiKPa42oZfuXSsfW3oMZxFf5vkYyA4cTsZwGSRo8zWgkHv5Tsch0G8q2rj-PHmXDNkc-qeG0L~M99wLnyPE5oDtx4KhGyKN-gqMaQxQTzK4wLeqDyldklxut1kFTRq3rz5l4RLmEsBdAkfZcdmrDKep4hMvOy5eOPvpgqfqQ4-JJcA8HW18EcpkiGcce9Z51nvHyZC6QYKZpz0B4az8pLmGcqNWMEyTCyxS3mXjixyBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarah Walls, a representative from the Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission that the Highway 6 segment between Broadway and Fairmeadows is in design for 2025 and scheduled for construction in 2026, with bridge reconstruction and full trail access expected in 2028.

The project received “just shy of $700,000” through a statewide Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant, Walls said, and the construction will be timed with a Highway 6 bridge reconstruction. “Right now, if you've been down there ... it's not ADA accessible,” Walls said, adding that a last-fall count found “between 120 and 160 people a day” using the bridge despite the lack of accessible facilities.

Commission members and staff said the connection will close an east–west gap in the trail network. Walls described the initial configuration: a south-side side path will provide immediate access across the bridge, and pedestrian facilities will be included on the bridge’s north and south sides. She said a north-side trail segment is planned for a later phase but will require property acquisition and intersection work.

The commission discussed signage and wayfinding for the broader route. Walls said staff had refurbished older trail identification signs after resurfacing work on the Willow Creek Trail and proposed new signs for sections being completed this year. She and staff suggested giving the west segment a local name, “Sunset Trail,” and the east segment “Sunrise Trail,” citing local street names and neighborhood names at each end of the route.

Commissioners suggested adding map-style wayfinding signs at high-use nodes such as City Park and Willow Creek Park, and asked staff to check an inventory of older map signs that were installed “around 2004–2005.” Walls said funding is the limiting factor but that she could check the city’s GIS inventory and explore opportunities as segments are resurfaced or built.

The commission did not take a formal vote on naming at the meeting; staff presented the proposal for feedback and future planning. Staff indicated the TAP-funded build and bridge reconstruction together will substantially improve safety and accessibility along the corridor.

Ending: Staff will return with more detailed signage plans, cost estimates, and an implementation timeline as design work continues and as property or intersection issues for the north-side trail are resolved.","City planning staff said a new trail connection across the Highway 6 bridge — funded in part by a statewide TAP grant — will add pedestrian and ADA access and staff proposed the names “Sunset Trail” (west) and “Sunrise Trail” (east) with additional wayfinding signs to tie the route into the larger network.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks staff outline spring projects, tree plantings and volunteer partnerships; city wins Tree City USA recognition

City Park Pool project moves forward; contract bids lower than early estimate, pool will be closed this summer

Iowa City staff propose names, signage for Highway 1 and Highway 6 trail connection