Iowa City Parks & Recreation needs your help envisioning the future of the Iowa City parks system through the “Gather Here” Parks planning initiative. This plan provides a study of the City’s current active park areas to evaluate accessibility, condition and lifespan of the facilities, as well as providing a visioning component to determine the park amenities and facilities desired by the community. The goal is to shape the park system and facilities in their role as gathering spaces for the Iowa City community.

To help inform the plan, a public input meeting will be held in conjunction with the Iowa City Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center from 10 a.m.- noon. All are welcome to participate.

This plan will focus on the department’s outdoor spaces, and not address the programs or services based inside the recreation centers or City Park Pool.

RDG Design of Des Moines was selected to lead this 9-month project.  The outcome will be a prioritized plan to guide maintenance and plans for additions to park facilities.

The master plan process began at the end October with a series of community focus groups geared at soliciting feedback on current facilities to determine accessibility and maintenance concerns.

Registration is now underway for the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department's Winter Break Camp, which keeps kids busy, learning, and entertained during their holiday break from school. This year's camp activities focus on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The camp is scheduled for Dec. 27-30, 2016 and Jan. 3-4, 2017 for kindergarten through sixth grade students.

Camp activities will begin and end at Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street, and will include STEAM activities and swimming, as well as some off-site activities such as bowling and other field trips. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., although children may be checked in beginning at 7:30 a.m. and picked up between 4 and 5:30 p.m. at no additional charge.

Fees are $40 per day per child. For non-Iowa City residents, the cost is $45 per day.

Visit www.icgov.org/camps to download the registration packet, including the schedule of camp activities, details on payment options and the list of items campers should bring each day of camp.

Printed packets are also available at either recreation facility: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street, or Mercer Park Aquatic Center/ Scanlon Gym, 2701 Bradford Drive.

Take a look at all the Iowa City Recreation Division can offer you and your family this season by checking out the Winter/Spring 2017 Activity Guide. It's now viewable online at www.icgov.org/activityguide and will be available in hard copy at several City facilities the week of Dec. 5, including: Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert Street; Mercer Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gymnasium, 2701 Bradford Drive; Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn Street; and City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street.

Registration for winter/spring 2017 classes and programs gets underway on Wednesday, December 14.

How to register:

ActiveNet Online: Online registration begins just after midnight, at 12:01 a.m., on the established registration date. To set up a new ActiveNet account or log in to your existing account to register and pay for classes, visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/iowacityrecreation/Home or click on the "Online registration" link at www.icgov.org/pr.

In-person registration: Stop by the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center at 220 S. Gilbert Street or the Mercer Park Aquatic Center / Scanlon Gym at 2701 Bradford Drive to register in person. Registration gets underway at 8 a.m. on the established registration date. To mitigate errors, registration will not be taken over the phone.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Customer Service Desk at 319-356-5100.

Registration is now open for K-6th grade basketball. Your child will learn basic skills, develop teamwork abilities and have fun!

Kindergarten Basketball
(PARENT COACHED PROGRAM)

Kindergarten basketball will be held once a week for seven weeks. The program will be held at Grant Wood Elementary gym from January 18-March 1. The last three weeks, there will be a 20-minute practice followed by a 25-minute game.

FEE: $35 (Late Registration $45)

1st-6th Grade Basketball
(PARENT COACHED PROGRAM)

1st-6th grade will practice once a week at the time and location for which they've registered. Games will be played on Friday nights or Saturday mornings at Alexander Elementary School gym.

FEE: $48 (Late registration $60)

For more info or to volunteer, contact:

Matt Eidahl
matt-eidahl@iowa-city.org
(319) 887-6081

New programs focused on teaching the principles of erosion, aquifers and watershed management are on the horizon, thanks to a $18,072.00 grant from the Department of Natural Resources. The goal of these new programs is to bring meaningful, interactive STEAM play exhibits to Iowa City youth. 

The plan calls for installation of an interactive water wall at the Discovery Garden and the Outdoor Classroom at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, as well as the purchase of mobile interactive displays that will travel to schools and neighborhoods and will be featured at special events sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, such as the new Creek Walk Series. A surface water management swale will also be established at Wetherby Park.

This grant comes through a partnership of the University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City Community School District, Backyard Abundance, Iowa Flood Center, the National Center for Science Education/ Iowa City Science Booster Club.