Mercer play

2019 Summer Playgrounds Program Announced

Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 1:30pm
Contact: 
Joyce Carroll
Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department's 2019 Summer Playgrounds Program provides games, arts and crafts, and activities around the themes of theatre, STEAM, cultural experiences, and environmental education for children completing grades K-6. Younger children may attend with a participating adult 16 years of age and older.

This is a drop-in program and children are welcome to come and go as they please, so parents should use discretion when sending children without a caregiver. The Playgrounds program will not run if it is raining, and will close if rain begins after...

City Park Pool

Opening weekend approaches for City Park Pool and Iowa City splash pads

Friday, May 17, 2019 - 2:00pm
Contact: 
Kate Connell
Parks and Recreation

Time to break out the sunscreen and bathing suits. City Park Pool and the spray/splash pads at Wetherby, Fairmeadows, and Tower Court Parks will open to the public Memorial Day Weekend. City Park Pool will open Saturday, May 25, 2019 while Iowa City splash/spray pads will open Monday, May 27.

2019 marks 70 years of City Park Pool operations. City Park Pool opened its doors for the first time on June 11, 1949. The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate City Park Pool's 70th birthday all summer long with special events and other activities.

In addition to...

Oakland Cemetery

Memorial Day Program to be held Monday, May 27

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 3:00pm
Contact: 
Russell Buffington
Parks and Recreation

A Memorial Day Program will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, 2019, at Oakland Cemetery, 1000 Brown Street. The program will take place near the Brown Street entrance.

The program will continue at 11 a.m. with a ceremony at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2600 Muscatine Avenue. Lunch will be served at American Legion Post 17, 3016 Muscatine Avenue, following the services at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Prior to the program, a brief ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. at Park Road Bridge honoring soldiers and sailors lost at sea.

Special thanks to the Johnson County...

Planters filled with plants used for tea.

Iowa City community planters filled with plants perfect for making tea

Monday, May 13, 2019 - 9:00am
Contact: 
Tyler Baird
Parks and Recreation

Planters throughout the City of Iowa City have been filled with plants perfect for making your own glass of tea.

Continuing off the success of last year's program, where various planters throughout the City were filled with edible plants, the City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department has planted tea-making plants in City planters.

The planters, some of which have actual teapots on top of them, feature a wide variety of plants: French thyme, lemon grass, passionflower, rosemary, chive, lavender, calamintha, Anise hyssop, black-eyed Susan and St. John's wort. Some...

2019 Party in the Park

2019 Party in the Park schedule announced

Friday, April 26, 2019 - 10:30am
Contact: 
Joyce Carroll
Parks and Recreation

Connect with friends, family and neighbors this summer at Party in the Park. The season begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Mercer Park, located at 2701 Bradford Drive. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy live music by the Iowa City Community Band. Games, arts and crafts, and treats will also be available. Each party will have its own theme this year. Follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ICParksandRec or visit our website at icgov.org/pr to stay up-to-...

2019 Summer Activity Guide cover

Summer Activity Registration starts Thursday, April, 25

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 11:15am
Contact: 
Brad Barker
Parks and Recreation

Take a look at all the Iowa City Recreation Division can offer you and your family this coming season by checking out the 2019 Summer Activity Guide. The guide is online at www.icgov.org/activityregistration and in hard copy at several Iowa City locations:

Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 South Gilbert Street Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gymnasium, 2701 Bradford Drive Iowa City Public Library, 123 South Linn Street Iowa City City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street

Registration for summer 2019 classes and programs...

Will Creek Park playground rendering

Willow Creek Park construction begins Wednesday, May 1

Friday, April 19, 2019 - 11:00am
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Part of Iowa City Park Projects by Parks and Recreation

Willow Creek Park, 1117 Teg Drive, will be closed beginning Wednesday, May 1, 2019 due to park renovations. The project is expected to be complete by fall 2019.

Renovations to Willow Creek park include new restrooms, shelter, and playground. Special attention is being given to creating a play space that is fun, inclusive, and accessible to a wide range of users.

A public input meeting and open house was held on Thursday, August 16, 2018. Public comments were incorporated into the park plan. Park users are encouraged to use the adjacent Kiwanis Park during construction....

Iowa City Farmers Market logo.

2019 Farmers Market season opens Wednesday, May 1

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 - 7:30am
Contact: 
Juli Seydell Johnson
Parks and Recreation

Grab your baskets, bags and boxes and make your way to the Iowa City Farmers Market to load up on local handcrafted, homemade and homegrown goods and produce. As in years past, Iowa City's Farmers Markets will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Chauncey Swan Ramp, 405 E. Washington Street.

Details Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 405 E. Washington St. The 2019 Iowa City Farmers Market season runs the first week in May through the last week in October. Market Music begins in June and runs through the rest of the season. Credit, debit and EBT/...

Trueblood 100

Celebrate Bike Month with the inaugural Trueblood 100

Friday, April 12, 2019 - 11:00am
Contact: 
Brad Barker
Parks and Recreation

Keep it 100 and take part in the inaugural Trueblood 100 Family Bike Ride from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area.

Coined as the "shortest century," this ride is perfect for everyone from little ones to adults. The emphasis of this ride will be on the family team experience where each rider’s lap counts towards the team’s distance goal. Teams of two or more will ride around Sand Lake on the trail at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Complete one of four "century" ride options. The more people per team, the less miles each rider will need...

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