Iowa City postpones new road through City Park

The city will postpone plans for a new entrance to Iowa City's signature park after hearing objections from residents of the flood-ravaged neighborhood where the road would be located.

The city budgeted $270,000 in fiscal year 2014 to extend the access road currently in City Park to Normandy Drive on the park's northwest side.

The intent was to improve traffic flow and emergency access at the 107-acre park. Also, the reconstruction of Dubuque Street and the Park Road bridge, another flood-related project, may result in the closure of the park entrance just west of the bridge, and the city would want another way to access the park.

But Parks and Recreation Director Mike Moran said that after numerous meetings with residents of the Parkview Terrace neighborhood, he suggests suspending the project for at least one construction season and maybe more.

“Almost all of them were opposed to it, “Moran said.

Parkview Terrace was the largest residential neighborhood in Iowa City to flood in the summer of 2008, with more than 100 homes at the time. Several dozen homes have been purchased  using federal and state funds and demolished since then.

About 50 homes remain, and residents say a park road connecting to Normandy Drive would bring unwanted increased traffic. They also said they felt city officials indicated the road would only be used for emergency vehicles, during large events and temporarily to access the park during the reconstruction the Park Road bridge.

Tom Novak of 609 Manor Dr. wrote an email to the City Council this month saying the neighborhood is popular with bicyclists, walkers, runner and skaters.

“A permanent through street into the park is going to result in a substantially higher traffic count, and would dramatically increase the likelihood of vehicle/pedestrian collisions,” he wrote.

Moran said people could still drive out of the park in the case of an emergency, so extending the road is not urgent.

He and City Manager Tom Markus said the City Park road idea is not dead, however. But they want to be accommodating of the neighbors.

“I wouldn't foreclose that idea,” Markus said. “On the other hand, that would require some sensitivity in how that gets done.”