A green graphic with the text "Keeping Iowa City green."

Iowa City named Tree City USA once more

Monday, April 12, 2021 - 8:15am
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

Iowa City has once again been named a 2020 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Iowa City achieved its 41st Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation....

Iowa City Parks and Recreation receive STMA Environmental Certification

Friday, April 9, 2021 - 1:15pm
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

An Environmentally Responsible Management certification has been earned by the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department from the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA.) This achievement is a credit to the parks and forestry staff who have established environmental best practices throughout three outdoor sports facilities, Iowa City Kickers Soccer Complex, Napoleon Softball Complex, and Mercer Park ball diamonds.

The certification is valid for three years and was awarded to each facility when they achieved a minimum of 80% compliance in each of the 10 categories that were...

City Park pool

Iowa City Parks and Recreation plan for summer aquatics

Thursday, April 8, 2021 - 9:30am
Contact: 
Brad Barker
Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department plans to reopen pools this summer in a phased approach.

Mercer Pool is currently open to the public for reserved lap swim, water walking, and open swim. Both residents of Iowa City and non-residents can make reservations, which cost $4 per person, per time block. Time blocks of 45-minute are available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for adults 16-years or older. Reservations are required; no drop-ins are allowed.

Mercer Park Aquatic Center will also begin offering...

Parks and Recreation announces FilmScene in the Park outdoor cinema

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - 2:00pm
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

Update: The first screening of FilmScene in the Park on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, has been postponed due to weather. "Minari," set to be shown that day, will be rescheduled for Thursday, May 13 & Friday, May 15. "Wolfwalkers" is still set to be shown Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department proudly announces FilmScene in the Park, an outdoor cinema partnership with FilmScene located at Chauncey Swan Park. The inaugural season of curated programming will include five acclaimed films from the past year and six family-friendly...

Graphic promoting summer recreation registration for Parks and Rec summer classes.

Summer Activity Registration starts Thursday April, 29

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - 8:15am
Contact: 
Brad Barker
Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department will offer you and your family a variety of outdoor recreational activities this coming season.

Registration for these summer programs will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Programs include STEAM classes, wilderness programs, youth sports, and swim lessons.

Participants are encouraged to enroll online . In-person registration will be held at Mercer Park Aquatic Center, 2701 Bradford...

Graphic that reads "attention: controlled burn."

Update: Controlled burn for Waterworks Prairie Park

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 - 8:45am
Contact: 
Tyler Baird
Parks and Recreation

Update: Due to yesterday's weather conditions, Monday, April 5, 2021, the controlled burn at Waterworks Prairie Park was canceled. Crews have restarted the controlled burn on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

A comprehensive burn plan was prepared and approved by the Iowa City Fire Department, and considerations will be made for wind direction and required weather conditions. Privately-owned land areas and structures will be protected, and fire breaks will be established along all sides of the burn area.

Seasonal burning of native vegetation in Iowa promotes species diversity,...

Graphic that reads "attention: controlled burn."

Controlled burn set for Hickory Hill Park, IC Kickers Park, & Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 9:15am
Contact: 
Tyler Baird
Parks and Recreation

Weather permitting, controlled prairie burns will be conducted on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Hickory Hill Park, IC Kickers Park, and at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Park users should expect partial closures.

A comprehensive burn plan was prepared and approved by the Iowa City Fire Department, and considerations will be made for wind direction and required weather conditions. Privately-owned land areas and structures will be protected, and fire breaks will be established along all sides of the burn area.

Seasonal burning of native vegetation in Iowa promotes species...

Controlled burn

Controlled prairie burns at select parks to begin April 1

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - 9:00am
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department will conduct controlled prairie burns at select City parks over the next month, with one expected to begin on Thursday, April 1, 2021, depending on wind direction and weather conditions.

The park scheduled for a controlled burn on Thursday is:

Hickory Hill Park, 1439 Bloomington Street

Due to the highly unpredictable nature of weather, wind, and ground conditions, there are no guaranteed dates for controlled burns for any of the parks. Burns typically occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Parks slated for prairie burns within...

Natural winterkill impacts local ponds and lakes

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - 4:00pm
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department has received reports of dead fish spotted in local bodies of water as the ice cover disappears following warmer temperatures. This winterkill occurs when ice barriers form on the surface of lakes and ponds, preventing oxygen circulation.

Iowa's winter weather included an accumulation of ice, blanketed by snow, which covered bodies of water for an extended period, and blocked crucial sunlight. This scenario impedes photosynthesis, which can cause aquatic plant life to die. The loss of aquatic plants results in less oxygen under the icy...

Creekside Park renamed after Iowa City literary legend James Alan McPherson

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - 10:45am
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

At the Tuesday, March 16, 2021 City Council meeting, Council approved the renaming of Creekside Park to James Alan McPherson Park. The recently updated park is located at 1856 7th Avenue Court.

The unanimous vote from council changes the park's name to honor the legendary career and life of McPherson, a longtime Iowa City resident, professor at the University of Iowa's prestigious Writers' Workshop, and the first African-American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Best known for his essays and short stories, McPherson's 1977 short story collection "Elbow Room"...

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