Construction begins on Iowa City’s Riverfront Crossings Park

IOWA CITY - Crews began construction this week on the $3 million first phase of Riverfront Crossings Park - a project years in the making that could become the 'centerpiece” to a waterfront district that's quickly being redeveloped near downtown Iowa City.

The initial phase of work includes grading and tree removal in the future park, located along the Iowa River Trail and Ralston Creek. The goal is to create trail connections and wetlands while also accomplishing creek restoration, according to city officials.

Much of the phase I work is expected to be completed this fall.

The park has its origins as part of a flood mitigation project after a wastewater treatment plant on the land was demolished following the flood of 2008. Additionally, a master plan for the park was released in May 2015, but an extension for the project had to be granted after the city found mercury in the area.

Juli Seydell Johnson, the city's director of parks and recreation, said phase II, more than two acres of a nature play area, is expected to be bid out to contractors in July. Renderings of the area show features like a fossil dig, zip line and nature-themed play equipment like 'reclaimed rails balance beam” and a 'dinosaur rib cage tunnel,” among other features.

A new north entrance and parking lot for the park aren't expected to be completed until next spring, Seydell Johnson said.

'Beyond that, there will be (a) restroom shelter, other park amenities, but I don't have funding or a timeline on those yet,” Seydell Johnson said.

The city awarded the roughly $2.3 million phase I contract to Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck. The city also included two additions to the phase I contract, the first for additional trail work at a cost of $51,656 and the second to construct the entrance and parking lot for $626,128.

The park is a piece of the new Riverfront Crossings District, much of which is in the process of being redeveloped with new businesses and housing, on which the Iowa City Council passed an affordable housing requirement.

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