116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Riverside skatepark to open soon in Cedar Rapids
Also, electric vehicle charging fee in Iowa City gets second approval
The city of Cedar Rapids will hold a ribbon-cutting to reopen Riverside skatepark this week.
The event will take place at the skatepark, at C Street and 13th Avenue SW, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The facility closed last year to make way for flood control work.
The Riverside skatepark and playground are being moved closer to C Street SW as part of the Czech Village 12th Avenue SW (Riverside Park) detention basin project.
The project includes the first phase of a $20 million detention basin, pump station and flood wall project adjacent to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
The city replaced elements of the park with concrete instead of steel parts, in line with current skatepark standards. California-based Spohn Ranch, a global skatepark designer, worked on the new park.
Register for fall Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation programs
The Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department’s fall program registration began online July 31.
Registrations are being accepted online, by phone at (319) 286-5566 or in person during regular business hours at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th St. NW, or at the City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW.
Play CR, the recreation program guide for all ages and abilities, is available online at CRREC.org. All Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Robins residents received the guide in the mail earlier this month. Play CR starts on page 25 of Our CR, the city of Cedar Rapids’ quarterly magazine.
A free open house will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 to introduce the department’s new dance instructor, Faythe Kubik, who is offering four dance classes this fall.
New activities and sports are being offered this fall for families, gardeners, teens and adults for all ages. The new “special populations” program has expanded classes and opportunities.
Fall programs at the Northwest Recreation Center include adult and youth basketball, art, drop-in cards and pickleball, karate, Kyudo Renmei, spots, special populations activities, toddler and preschool activities, volleyball and open gyms.
Popular fall events are back, including the Fall Leaf Tour, Harvest Hayrack Nights at Ushers Ferry Historic Village, as well as golf at the city’s three courses and mini golf at Mini Pines, football, soccer and adult softball.
Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation offers a low-income assistance program, RecAssist, for those with financial need. The program offers a discount on swim passes and recreation programs to people who qualify. For more information and to apply, visit CityofCR.com/RecAssist.
Linn County accepting community attraction grant applications
The Linn County Board of Supervisors is now taking applications for the Legacy & Community Attraction Fund grant program. The board established the fund to foster and support long-standing, new and diverse community events and organizations in the county.
Grants must go toward promoting Linn County history or culture and/or work to attract residents and outside visitors. Priority is given to events, programs and capital projects over requests for operating support. Grants support only expenses that have not yet been incurred.
Preferred applications will be for projects/programs that promote Linn County via opportunities for historical education or community attraction; show a return on investment dollars; and do not duplicate current or long-standing events in the county.
This competitive grant process is open to nonprofits in Linn County or that have a branch location in Linn County. To maximize the $50,000 available this year, a maximum of five awards will be given.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 29.
Electric vehicle charging fee in Iowa City gets second approval
The Iowa City Council last week unanimously approved the second consideration of an ordinance adding a new fee for electric vehicle charging at public stations.
The new fee would apply to charging in the city’s six downtown parking ramps. Implementing the new fee will allow the city to break even on its costs.
The city fee would cover the costs of a new state user fee, which is intended to replace gas taxes that electric vehicle owners no longer are paying. Other city costs also include ChargePoint transaction fees, electricity and ChargePoint cloud plan fees. ChargePoint is the platform the city uses to facilitate charging sessions.
The proposed fee would be 16 cents per kilowatt-hour. A typical electric vehicle driver can anticipate paying $4 per four-hour charging session. If no city fee is imposed, the estimated loss for Iowa City is $10,568 per year.
New rules at Kingston Stadium
The Cedar Rapids Community School District has announced new guidelines to ensure a safe environment for athletes and spectators at football games held at Kingston Stadium, 907 15th St. SW, Cedar Rapids, this fall.
The guidelines include:
- All spectators will be respectful, safe and responsible and follow the direction of the on-site administration, Kingston staff and security.
- Only clear bags will be allowed in the stadium and are subject to search.
- No backpacks or cinch sacks are allowed in the stadium.
- No weapons, alcohol, non-prescription controlled substances or products containing nicotine will be allowed in the stadium.
- No loitering in and around the stadium.
- Middle school-aged children and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- High school students must present their ID in order to enter the stadium.
- All spectators must enter and stay on their assigned sides of the stadium.
- Once you leave the stadium, you cannot return unless another ticket is purchased.
- All spectators are asked to leave the stadium grounds immediately after game ends.
- Abusive, threatening or inappropriate verbal and physical conduct directed at students, school officials, employees, officials, players, activity sponsors, security personnel, or another individual, will not be tolerated.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King contribute.
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