It’s time to play! The City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission and Staff invite you to a special ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Mercer Park Playground -- the City’s newest and largest play area, which is now open to the public. The event begins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 with remarks from City Council member John Thomas, and Iowa City Parks and Recreation Director Juli Seydell Johnson, followed by the ribbon-cutting. Lemonade and popcorn will be provided and the public is encouraged to attend.

For those nostalgic for the old Mercer playground, there is something for you too. Iowa City Parks and Recreation received a $2,000 donation from the Iowa City Optimist Club to refurbish the old fire engine play structure, which will remain in its original location near the new playground.

Many thanks to the Iowa City Optimist Club!

The City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with Friends of Hickory Hill Park, will hold a public input meeting to discuss the proposed Hickory Hill Park Master Plan from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 15 at the park shelter near the south entrance to the park, 1439 Bloomington Street. In the case of rainout, the meeting will be held at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Social Hall, 220 S. Gilbert Street.

Project goals and objectives that have been identified include:

1. Improve wayfinding and signage
2. Improvements to bridges and trails
3. Review park programming
4. Improve park identification
5. Recommend trail surfacing materials
6. Improve access to the northern park area.

This will be the final public input meeting for the Hickory Hill Master Plan. A prior meeting was held on March 13, followed by an online public commenting period from March 13- April 1. 

If you are unable to attend the public meeting, staff still want your input. From May 16 – May 20, project information will be posted online at www.icgov.org/pr along with a comment sheet which can be e-mailed to the project team. 

Find this event on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1611366782518018/.

Grab your baskets, bags and boxes and make your way to Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 405 E. Washington Street, between 5 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4 to load up on fresh local foods and goods at opening day of the 2016 Iowa City Farmers Market. As in years past, Iowa City's Farmers Markets will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Chauncey Swan Ramp, and on Tuesdays at Mercer Park, 2701 Bradford Drive. The schedule is as follows:

• Mercer Park Farmers Market, 1317 Dover St.
  Operates May 31 - Aug. 30
  Tuesdays, 3-6 p.m.
  
  
• Chauncey Swan Park Farmers Markets, 405 E. Washington St.
  Operates May - Oct.
  Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m.
  Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

This season, the Iowa City Farmers Market will be more accessible than ever! Shoppers may bring their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and/or credit cards to a centralized information table and swipe their cards for tokens that correspond with the amount they choose to spend from their cards. All eligible vendors will accept the SNAP tokens and all vendors will accept the credit card tokens.

Take a look at all the Iowa City Recreation Division can offer you and your family this season. The Summer Recreation Activity Guide is now available online at www.icgov.org/activityguide and available in hardcopy at several City facilities including City Hall, Iowa City Public Library, and both Iowa City recreation centers-- Robert A. Lee and Mercer Aquatic Center.  

Registration opened Wednesday, April 27.

To register online, either set up your new ActiveNet account or to log into your existing account at: https://apm.activecommunities.com/iowacityrecreation/Home. 

In-person registration is also available at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center at 220 S. Gilbert Street, and at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center / Scanlon Gym at 2701 Bradford Drive.

Register now for the Live Healthy Iowa Youth Track & Field Championship.

This local event will be held on Friday, May 20 at Raffensperger Track, Bates Field (City High), located at 1900 Morningside Drive in Iowa City. Track will open at 5 p.m. for warm-up; races begin at 5:45 p.m.

Participants must compete in his/her age group. A participant’s age division is based off of what age the participant is as of December 31, 2016. Age groups include 9 & 10-year-olds, 11 &12-year-olds, and 13 & 14-year-olds.

For more information visit www.icgov.org/youthsportinfo.

On to Summer Games!

Eighty Recreation Division Special Olympic athletes will advance to the Iowa Special Olympics Summer Games at Iowa State University this month, May 19-21.  To advance to the Summer Games, athletes must earn a first-place finish in their event at their regional competition. Athletes will represent the Iowa City in a number of aquatic, bocce, soccer, tennis and track and field events at the Summer Games.

To see event pictures and updates from the Games visit the Special Olympics Iowa City Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsIowaCityRecreation/

Iowa City Recreation Division’s Special Populations Involvement (SPI) program participant Robin Kugley has been involved with Special Olympics for five years, and enjoyed race walking, cheerleading, and the SPI arts and crafts classes. When asked about her favorite sport, Robin said she enjoys cheerleading most because she was involved in cheer when she attended high school at Iowa City West High. She said that she knew about Special Olympics in high school but didn't really get involved until a few years ago. 

When thinking back to her cheerleading team's recent victory at the Mid-Winter Tournament, Robin said it felt like a miracle when they called their name for first place. She also stated that she is really excited to participate in cheerleading again next year. Robin’s favorite thing about Special Olympics Cheerleading is that "no one judges you, even if you mess up." 

Robin also recently competed in the race walking events at the Spring Games last month. Finishing in first place in the 100 meter walk, Robin will advance on to the Special Olympics Summer Games in May at Iowa State University. When she is not practicing for her sports, Robin enjoys working at Hy-Vee, reading, and cleaning.  She also enjoys making new friends.  Make sure to watch for Robin and all of the talented athletes as they represent the Iowa City Recreation Division in the Special Olympics Summer Games, which will be held May 19-21!

Registration is now open for the Recreation Division’s summer camp. Camps will run weekly starting on June 6 and ending August 5. The camp day runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with optional supervised play from 7:30 – 9 a.m. and from 4 - 5:30 p.m. at no additional cost. Camp Thunder will cater to children in grades K-3, Camp Lightning is for children grades 4-6, and STEAM Camp,  which will focus on subjects related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math is available for children in grades K-6. Camps Thunder and Lightning will offer mixed recreation programming with themes for each week.

To view the parent guide, which includes of descriptions of each camp, and download a registration form, visit : https://www.icgov.org/event/icpr-summer-camp-registration-information.
One registration form is due for each child planning to enroll in camp.

Beginning March 30, completed forms may be dropped off or mailed to either the Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gym, 2701 Bradford Dr., or Robert A. Lee Recreation Ctr., 220 S. Gilbert St., or emailed to Joyce Carroll at joyce-carroll@iowa-city.org