Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation

The Cedar Rapids Parks Department manages over 4,040 acres of City-owned property. In addition to 73 named areas, there are hundreds of acres of undeveloped green space for enjoyment, future park expansion, and flood control. Ball diamonds, restrooms, and playgrounds abound throughout the park system.

The Parks Department maintains all weather basketball courts, the trail system, splash pads, sand volleyball courts (at Shaver Park, Foxtrail Park, and Ellis Park), a BMX dirt track at Cheyenne Park, rugby field, an off-leash dog exercise area, 22 pavilions, baseball and softball fields, and picnic areas. The Department also operates 16 spray pools, the Tuma Soccer Complex, Bever Park Children's Zoo, and Noelridge Park Flower Gardens. Two frisbee golf courses are located at Shaver park and Jones park.

The park season for the availability of restrooms, drinking fountains, rental of open-air pavilions, and general day-to-day operating conveniences runs from April 22 through October 8, 2006. As spring unfolds, water is turned on in the larger parks first and the smaller parks follow.

Office Location:
3601 42nd Street NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Phone Number:
(319) 286-5760

Riverside Skate Park

Riverside Skate Park provides a safe environment for extreme sports such as in-line skating, skateboarding, and biking. The park consists of a concrete surface with nine steel obstacles. These include a half-pipe, ramps, railings, and more. One unique jump ramp grouping, called "the works", is one of only two installed by the manufacturer in the United States. The skate park is lighted until 9:45 PM during the summer. Helmets, pads, and other safety equipment, while not required, are strongly recommended.
For those not interested in extreme sports, Riverside Park also has a playground, spray pool, and a softball diamond. Restrooms and running water are available during the regular operating season.

Sports fields and courts
Soccer
Soccer fields for public use are located in Seminole Valley Park (2), Jones Park (2), and Cherry Hill Park (3). These fields are used for youth leagues by local soccer organizations and the Recreation Department, but they are open to the public when not scheduled. Reserve these fields at the Ambroz Center, 2000 Mt. Vernon Rd. SE.

The Tuma Soccer Complex is located on a 110-acre site (at C Ave. Extension and County Home Road) that includes 28 soccer fields, a pavilion, concessions, restrooms and parking. About 5,000 participants from various soccer organizations are served at this facility which is a tournament-level complex and the largest in Iowa. The complex fields are available by reservation for tournaments and games only are not left open. Call (319) 286-5760 for rates and availability.

Softball/ Baseball
Competition diamonds are available at Ellis Park (3), Noelridge Park (8), Daniels Park (1), Van Vechten Park (3), Viola Gibson Park (1), and Cherry Hill Park (5). Local baseball and softball organizations, the Recreation Department, and area schools and colleges use fields for league play. Diamonds are available for the public to reserve at the Ambroz Recreation Center, 2000 Mt. Vernon Rd. SE.

The Tait Cummins Softball Complex is located at 3000 C Street SW. This complex includes four lighted, fenced diamonds with 300 ft. fences. All four diamonds have ag-lime infields and irrigated outfields. Amenities of the complex include a new concession stand constructed in 2001 and a shelter constructed in 2002. A playground is fenced in as well as screened over the top to protect kids from foul balls.

Tennis
The City of Cedar Rapids maintains tennis courts in Jones Park (3), Ellis Park (2), Noelridge Park (6), and Bever Park (1).

The City also operates the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Tennis Center. The center features twelve courts, six of which are new and three resurfaced in 2001. Locker rooms, showers, a sheltered patio and picnic area, and bleachers are available at the site. Courts are open from dawn to dusk. The Recreation Department offers lessons, leagues, special events, and tournaments for youth at the facility. Local high schools and colleges use the center for practices and tournaments

Water Playgrounds
"Splash pads" are ready to cool kids from May 27, 2006 through September 17, 2006. They are located at Cleveland Park, Time Check Park, Daniels Park, Redmond Park, Hidder Park, and Jacolyn Park. Water is turned on at 10:00 AM each day and turned off at 7:00 PM. The spray features are activated when a hand is run across the sensor on the fire hydrant.

Locations:

Cleveland Park, 1st Avenue and 15 Street SW
Time Check Park, 5th Street and K Avenue NW
Daniels Park, Oakland Road and H Avenue NE
Redmond Park, 3rd Avenue and 16th Street SE
Hidder Park, 10th Street and 14th Avenue SE
Jacolyn Park, Jacolyn Drive and Gordon Avenue NW

Walking Trails

For maps visit:
www.linncountytrails.org

The Parks Department maintains several walking trails throughout the City. The trails wind through wood areas, shady parks, along streams, the Cedar River, and downtown Cedar Rapids. The Cedar River Trail and Cedar Lake Loop Trail are asphalt and concrete and are kept open throughout the year. The crushed limestone trails are not cleared in the winter.

Cherokee Trail
This is a 1 mile trail located off Johnson Ave. between Edgewood Road and Wiley Blvd. NW. Parking is along Midway Drive on the trail's north side. Fitness stations and shady tree-lined stretches of trail are features of this crushed limestone facility.

Cherry Hill Trail
This crushed limestone trail is .84 miles long. It is located on the west end of Cherry Hill Park on Cedar Rapids NW side. Most people access this trail off of Stony Point Rd.

Noelridge Park Trail
One of the oldest trails in the park system, this popular trail is in Noelridge Park on the City's NE side. The trail is 0.8 miles long. It regularly hosts fitness walks, walk-a-thons, and company fitness outings. Top off your visit to this trail by stopping to view the Noelridge Park Flower Gardens in late spring and summer, a game of tennis, or a visit to one of two playgrounds for the kids. This crushed limestone trail is best accessed off Council Street between Collins Rd. and 42nd St. NE.

Nixon Park Trail
A .75 mile trail with very little grade change awaits users. The trail runs through Nixon Park and around Nixon School near Hiawatha on the City's NE side. The trail is crushed limestone. Two very nice ball diamonds are also available for park users at Nixon Park.

Sac and Fox Trail
This is the oldest National Recreation Trail in Iowa. It is 7.5 miles in length and is crushed limestone. The trail follows the Cedar River and Indian Creek on the SE side of Cedar Rapids. The popular Indian Creek Nature Center is located midway along the trail, about 1/2 mile south of the Mount Vernon Rd. and Betram Rd. intersection. There are numerous access points along the trail and abundant parking areas especially south out Mount Vernon Road. Scout troops can check with the Nature Center for details on how to earn the Sac and Fox Trail Patch. Equestrian use of this trail is permitted. Users are asked to clean up after themselves and to refrain from taking horses over the bridges. Low water crossings are provided near each bridge.

Cedar River Trail
This all-weather trail now extends from Blairs Ferry Rd NE through downtown Cedar Rapids to Highway 30 on the city's southwest side. This 10.8 mile trail is ten feet wide. Experience the sights and sounds of urban wildlife along McCloud's Run, Cedar Lake, and the Cedar River. The west side of Cedar Lake also provides access to the newly asphalted trail segment that encircles Cedar Lake. This is a mile-long trail named the Cedar Lake Loop Trail. Parking for the loop trail is located on Shaver Road, south of the Interstate 380 crossover at H Ave. Parking for the Cedar River Trail is located at Tait Cummins Park on the south end, and at McCloud Run on the north end. Popularity of this trail is increasing daily as people discover its smooth surface and gentle grade changes. Please exercise caution, hold bicycle and roller blade speed to a reasonable minimum and practice trail courtesies posted along the trail.

Old McDonald's Farm at Bever Park
Old McDonald's Farm in Bever Park, 2700 Bever Avenue SE, is maintained and operated by the Parks Department and is free to the public.

This year, enjoy the farm exhibit daily from April 22 - October 1, 2007. Hours are from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Please note that some exhibits may close 15-20 minutes early due to variations in feeding schedules. (The Schuknecht Waterfowl Exhibit closes at 6:30 PM).

If your school group is interested in touring Old McDonald's Farm, call Julie at (319)286-5761 for details.

Ice Rinks, Sledding, Skiing
Lou Dennis Ice Rink (Ellis Park)
Lou Dennis Ice Rink will not be maintained this winter. Skaters may use the rink at their own risk.

Arthur School Ice Rink
Located just north of Arthur School, this rink is constructed using a plastic liner which results in better quality ice and longer skating season. The rink is unsupervised with timed lights that shut off at 10:00 PM.

Bever Park Ice Rink
A plastic liner helps this ground rink, located in Bever Park, last longer through Iowa winter thaws. The rink is unsupervised with timed lights that shut off at 10:00 PM.

Sledding Hill and Toboggan Run
Soar down a snow covered hill at Jones Park! Enjoy hours of fun on this giant hill with a maintained toboggan run. The sledding hill and toboggan run are open when enough snow accumulates to completely cover the hill. The hill and the run are not lighted. Call (319) 286-5700 for sledding and tobogganing conditions before heading out into the cold.

Cross Country Ski Trails
Venture out to cross country (Nordic) ski on trials throughout the City. Trails are open, marked, and groomed when they are completely covered with snow. Call the Winter Sports Hotline at (319) 286-5700 for trail openings and closings. Trails are located at Ellis Park Golf Course, Twin Pines Golf Course, and the Sac and Fox Trail (near the Indian Creek Nature Center).