Cedar Rapids to hold open house for Riverside skate park relocation

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids is holding an open house Wednesday evening for input on the relocation of the skate park at Riverside Park, which will be moved for construction of a segment of the flood control system.

The open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW, according to a news release. Skate park and park users, neighbors, City Council members and interested residents may attend and share feedback on the orientation, layout, flow of the relocated skate park and features that must be replaced.

The detention basin at Riverside Park will displace the existing playground and skate park equipment. The playground will be replaced, but has been removed to make way for work on the basin.

The skate park — the city’s first — will be removed after Labor Day. The city plans to do a like-for-like replacement of the skate park with concrete, in line with current standards.

The skate park and playground are slated to be complete by summer 2023.

The Czech Village 12th Avenue SW (Riverside Park) detention basin 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.

Detention basins help reduce the capacity of pumping equipment through the flood control system, allowing rainwater from storm sewers to be stored when there is heavy rainfall. In a flood, water can then be pumped over the flood wall.

Cedar Rapids is refreshing its greenway plans this fall to include the newest alignment of the $750 million flood control system. Part of that plan includes a large “destination” skate park. There will be opportunity for public feedback as the greenway plans are updated.

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