Cedar Rapids selects New York consultant to draft new greenway plan

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids will soon launch its process of refreshing the master plan guiding development of the approximately 130-acre greenway along the west side of the Cedar River — providing a vision for enhancements and recreational amenities alongside flood protection.

The Cedar Rapids City Council this week signed off on a contract with Brooklyn, New York-based Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc. to update the greenway parks plan for $262,800.

The city solicited qualifications and received responses from four consultants, which were scored by city staff:

The contract, approved by the council in a vote on the consent agenda — where routine items are considered without discussion — spans July 11 through March 31, 2024.

The greenway plan will cover three areas: the Time Check neighborhood running north; the central riverfront in Kingston Village; and Czech Village in the south.

In a meeting of the council’s Development Committee on Wednesday, city planner Haley Sevening said since the city’s greenway plan was first created in 2014, Cedar Rapids has seen major developments in the greenway areas that have significantly changed the environment.

  Buy Photo

Alignment and construction of the city’s permanent flood control system on the west side of the river has progressed. Additionally, the city in 2021 completed a river recreation feasibility study that explored the creation of a $14.6 million 5-in-1 Dam bypass channel featuring a white-water park near downtown. And the $81.5 million mixed-use First and First West development featuring a Big Grove Brewery, hotel rooms, housing and other uses is now under construction.

The city also received a $3 million state Destination Iowa grant, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, for the Czech Village Roundhouse and “woonerf” convertible street.

“A more updated plan does position the city to be competitive for federal funding for implementation,” Sevening said.

Parks and Recreation and Community Development are leading the effort to update the plan. The city will kick off the project in August, with community engagement occurring this fall. The council could consider adopting the plan in the spring of 2024.

“It’s not lost on me how we’re building for the future, building for future generations,” said council member Ashley Vanorny, who sits on the committee.

Community Development Director Jennifer Pratt said funding for amenities included in the greenway plan would come separate from funds used for the flood control system. Bigger components such as the white-water park would need to be supported by larger grants, she said.

“It’s exciting stuff and I hope … we’ll have money to actually implement a lot of this,” said council member Ann Poe, committee chair. “ … Even though many of us are on council for a short period of time, this is something that's going to grow and be around for a very long time, and so the work we're doing now is extremely important.”

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com