Try paddleboarding Saturday at Ped Mall

Have you always wanted to try stand-up paddleboarding, but never had the opportunity?

If so, you may want to make some waves during an event scheduled Saturday at the Ped Mall in Iowa City.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Iowa City Downtown District is offering free stand-up paddleboarding in a 15,000 gallon pool of water that is to be set up in the Black Hawk Mini Park within the Ped Mall.

Everyone, regardless of age, is invited to stop down and give it a try. The 25-by-50-foot pool is to be filled with 2 feet of water and all the necessary equipment, including life jackets, is being provided.

Standup paddleboarding is a watersport where riders stand upright on a surfboard and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water.

Betsy Potter, ICDD's director of operations, said officials reached out to Colorado-based Avid 4 Adventure after hearing positive feedback from the Downtown Denver Partnership - an urban economic development team in the Mile High City.

Avid 4 Adventures is providing instructors to help folks get the hang of paddleboarding.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures topping out in the low 70s.

The event is sponsored by the US Bank and is part of a ICDD's marketing campaign dubbed 'Open Washington.” The push is to keep people coming downtown during the Washington Street Streetscape construction project, Potter said.

Last month, the ICDD hosted outdoor yoga and pingpong events at the Black Hawk Mini Park as part of the campaign. Potter said the turnout was so large officials plan on hosting those events again. Another outdoor yoga session is set to take place on May 22, she said. In addition, a giant Jenga game is expected to be on site from May 23-29, a Board Game Night is scheduled for June 14 and a rock climbing wall is to be set up July 11.

'So far, we have a great reception,” Potter said. 'All of our events are free and open to everyone and hopefully a lot of fun.”

If You Go

What:

Stand-up paddleboarding event

When:

11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 21

Where:

Black Hawk Mini Park at the Ped Mall, Iowa City

Cost:

Free