Destination Cedar Rapids links Cedar Lake, trail bridge and Sinclair playground

CEDAR RAPIDS - Go big or go home is the theory behind connecting three high profile proposals that have gained appeal in their own right but combined could transform the outdoor recreation landscape in the City of Five Seasons.

The plan called Destination Cedar Rapids links three similarly-themed projects near the heart of the city: restoration of Cedar Lake, converting an old railroad bridge into a pedestrian/bike span between NewBo and Czech Village, and developing an outdoor play space in the vacant old Sinclair site at the end of Third Street NE.

'We think there's an opportunity right now,” said Dale Todd, president of Friends of Cedar Lake and the Southside Development Board. 'By connecting these into one vision we think we bring more clout and a compelling case to make this happen.”

Todd, Geonetric owner and Southside Development member Eric Engelmann, and former lawmaker Steve Sovern presented the idea at 1 million Cups, an entrepreneurial engagement group that meets regularly, on Wednesday at the Cedar Rapids Library. The projects are thematically similar with an emphasis on walkability and bikeability but also would be geographically linked through recreational trails.

'Think of it as one destination,” Engelmann said to the crowd of about 100 people. 'All have unique characteristics and moving parts, but they all fit together.”

Todd added, 'This is no longer a NewBo project, Daniels Park neighborhood project, a Czech Village project. These are community projects, a community wide effort that improves the whole community from a quality life perspective, not one or two neighborhoods.”

Similar versions of all three projects have been presented over the years, but Todd said all three are approaching a tipping point to move forward and play well off each other.

The idea of Destination Cedar Rapids was born out of a fundraising strategy of making one, albeit larger, appeal for a cohesive vision rather than targeting the same groups multiple times.

'If you make one ask, even though it is more, it could be more effective,” Sovern said.

All three projects have a combined $18 million in fundraising needs, Todd said. Each project is at various stages of identifying appropriate grants to apply for.

Cedar Rapids City Council member Scott Overland said after the presentation he viewed the concept as feasible. He applauded that this is a community-lead effort with in-house plans for fundraising. The city should step in to support the effort at some point, but it is better the city isn't the driver, he said.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett called it a 'good idea” and noted the model was similar to a 'Culture's Alive” grant he had when he was president of the Chamber of Commerce.