Think Iowa City presents Swisher Tract multi-use trail master plan to University Heights council

Think Iowa City consultants on June 10 presented a multi-use trail master plan for the Swisher Tract that would add walking and bike trails, a paved ADA-accessible loop and a small trailhead to connect about 36 acres of contiguous forested land near the University of Iowa.

Josh Schomburger, a Think Iowa City project lead, told the University Heights City Council the document is “really just, a vision and a plan, a proposed document.” He said the plan is advisory and that any construction or activation would be up to the city and residents.

The presentation by Ryan Anderson, a landscape architect with Bolton & Menk, and Ken Barker of Backyard Trails outlined two preliminary concepts and a preferred concept that blends elements of both. Anderson said the preferred plan includes about two miles of single-track trails and roughly a quarter mile of double-track or wider, accessible trail. “In our final concept, we have about 2 miles of single track, across the blue and the green, and then about a quarter mile of double track,” Anderson said.

Consultants said the combined forested area totals about 36 acres, of which roughly 12 acres in the southeast third are city-owned and the remainder is owned by the Board of Regents and used by the University of Iowa. The plan maps existing social trails, identifies viewshed points, and proposes sustainable alignments that minimize erosion and water crossings. A preferred design avoids the steepest ravines and limits highly technical features to keep most trails accessible to walkers and families.

The preferred concept includes an ADA-compliant paved loop near the northern residential building, a small trailhead with four parking stalls (one or two accessible), a stormwater detention basin to manage runoff from an existing steep driveway, and a mix of single-track dirt trails and boardwalk or rock-armored creek crossings where necessary. Consultants estimated ballpark construction costs at the master-plan level: earlier concepts ranged about $690,100 to $736,300; the preferred concept with an added trailhead and detention basin raised the estimate by roughly $100,000. The estimates include a 20% contingency and were derived from past bids and local trail-builder experience.

Schomburger and the consultants emphasized that the University of Iowa would need to agree to any uses on university-owned portions. Schomburger said he had discussed the plan with university officials and that the university signaled a willingness to pursue a use or lease arrangement, but he stressed formal agreements would be needed before implementation.

Public commenters largely supported developing safe, neighborhood-focused trails and expressed interest in invasive species removal, bench and sign installations, and avoiding lights that could affect bird habitat. Lisa Havercamp, chair of the Tree Board, noted invasive plants and asked the council to consider a management component. Resident David Giese asked whether additional amenities such as a pond had been considered; consultants said pond creation had not been part of the plan to date.

Consultants and councilors discussed phasing options. The team said the plan can be implemented in phases and that a phase limited to city-owned land (the double-track trail) could proceed without property acquisition. Schomburger said Think Iowa City would pursue grants and partnerships and estimated roughly 80% of the project cost could be sought from outside grant funding, leaving about 20% of costs to be raised locally or phased into the city budget if the council chooses to proceed.

Council members asked about maintenance, liability and lighting. The consultants said the design currently excludes permanent lighting and is intended as a low-impact, daytime recreational system, not a regional destination or commuter route. Anderson said trails are intended to be “socially sustainable” to reduce conflicts between walkers and faster-moving bicyclists and that several crossings would use engineered armoring or boardwalks to reduce erosion.

Next steps described were additional coordination with the University of Iowa, refinement of final design and cost estimates, grant-seeking for implementation, and optional public open houses for final design feedback. Council members suggested public meetings with exhibits to collect broader input on features such as banners, light pole styles, benches and wayfinding.

Consultants left the master-plan document with the council for review and said they would assist with grant applications and further design if the city elects to pursue the project.