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City Notes: Spring, at last!

By Steve Lindaman, Charles City Parks and Recreation Director

Charles City’s parks and other outdoor attractions have much to offer residents

Finally, we welcome spring 2018! As like most of you, I was beginning to think it would never arrive. Although it will likely shorten our summer season, it doesn’t mean that it will be any less busy with events and activities.

Soon you will see the beginning efforts of establishing an edible arboretum along Clark Street bordered by B Street and 2nd Avenue. This underutilized site was chosen because it is adjacent to the existing rain gardens and community gardens, as well as close to the riverfront park system and downtown.

The goal of this project is to grow trees and bushes that produce fruits and nuts that are “free for the picking” to the community and to help demonstrate ways to incorporate gardens and edible landscapes into yards or spaces.

For Phase I, Wendy Johnson of the Garden Corridor committee is spearheading the park development by establishing an Adopt-A-Tree program with a planting date of May 19. For additional information on adopting a tree, please contact Wendy at 641-228-1583 or email her at 207wendy@gmail.com.

Phase II development beginning in the spring of 2019 will include permeable walkways, seating, entryway signage and an outdoor classroom.

Recent improvements at the Wildwood Golf Course on holes 4, 5, and 6 will provide a more challenging and less congested course for the golfers’ enjoyment. Fees for the 2018 season have remained at the 2017 levels and continue to provide the best golf experience for the best price in the area.

The clubhouse social hall saw improvements in 2017 including air conditioning and heating, along with new ADA handicapped access and restroom.

Additional information regarding golf opportunities or social hall rental is available by contacting the clubhouse at 641-257-6322.

The “new” Lions Field Pool will open for the 28th season on Memorial Day, May 28. Due to school still in session it will be closed May 29 and 30 and re-open for the season on Thursday, May 31. Swim Lesson information will be available soon.

Volunteer lifeguards will again provide their service to allow water walking from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the summer at no cost. Additional information on any of these activities can be obtained by contacting the pool when it opens for the season at 641-257-1188.

Speaking of water activities, we are looking for individuals interested in learning whitewater kayaking. With grants received from the Floyd County Community Foundation and the local RAGBRAI Committee we were able to purchase  seven whitewater kayaks, including all necessary gear for instructional purposes.

If you love the outdoors and are looking for an exciting and adventurous sport, please contact me at 641-257-6312. We plan to offer classes in June with an exact date, time and location to be announced at a later date.

As an additional note, the summer competition events are June 23 for the Charles City Whitewater Challenge, and June 30 for the Iowa Games competition.

The Waverly Hill Park Dog Park “large dog” area will be opening soon. Some areas were graded and seeded late last fall which we are waiting to germinate to avoid muddy areas. Some additional ground work is yet to be performed along with the installation of benches, dog waste bag dispensers and signage.

Given the recent warmer weather, I would anticipate a mid-May opening.

I would like to thank the numerous volunteers (and goats) for all their work in planning and preparing this area for our four-pawed friends.

Improvements will continue at Victory Park beginning with the reconstruction of North Illinois and Riverside streets. With the reconstruction, it is planned to relocate two of the decorative lights from along the street to the trail which extends through Kate McLeod Park (CIA owned) into Victory Park. The sculpture Revival at Victory Park will have down-lighting applied for nighttime viewing. Once this is completed, an evaluation will take place to determine if additional trail lighting is needed.

The Phyllis Meyer family is consulting with the sign manufacturer to improve legibility of the narrative, as well as sustainability of the sign and surrounding landscape.

The skate park at Lions Field Park was constructed 15 years ago and is at or near the need of replacement. Use has been discussed at recent Park and Recreation Board meetings.

To help determine use, the board has set aside, with City Council approval, $10,000 to see if there is interest by anyone in pursuing replacement. Please contact any board member or me if you are interested in additional information.

In conclusion, we are very fortunate to have the park and recreational system in Charles City. The national average community has 10 acres of parks per 1,000 people. This equates to 75 acres for a city our size, where in fact we have approximately 330 acres.

Charles City is also blessed with a 110-year-old organization called the City Improvement Association (CIA). This organization owns, improves and maintains over 30 acres of property which it makes available for you to enjoy. This is unheard of in any other community!

There are also seven Park and Recreation Board members who volunteer their time serving to provide the best park and recreation facilities possible. Those current members are Sarah Barrett, Chris Eldridge, Diane Meyer, Jeff Otto, Dennis Petersen, Kenneth Sheckler and James Smith.

Have an enjoyable and safe summer.

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