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Health & Fitness

Lower City Park To Reopen In Time For Independence Day Holiday

Recent flooding in Iowa City left its mark on Lower City Park, which remains closed even though floodwaters are now receding.

Parks and Recreation Director Mike Moran indicated that cleanup is underway and Lower City Park will be reopened in time for the Independence Day holiday. The status of flood clean-up and recovery efforts at City Park are as follows:

Amusement rides: The City Park amusement rides, which had just opened for the season on May 25, three days before the flood, were dismantled and moved to storage to avoid damage. With the exception of the train, plans call to have the remainder of the rides back in operation for the Independence Day holiday. The entire length of the train tracks will undergo a safety inspection before the train is reactivated. 

Riverside Theatre at the Park: Summer performances at the Riverside outdoor stage (the Shakespeare stage) have been moved to West High Auditorium at 2901 Melrose Avenue. For more information, visit www.riversidetheatre.org. While the outdoor theatre will not be used for performances for the remainder of the summer, it can be reserved for special events beginning July 1. Call 319-356-5100 for more information.

Shelters: All City Park shelters affected by the flood have been cleaned and are ready for walk-in use, as well as reservations. 

Tennis courts: Tennis courts are open and ready for use.

Trails: Floodwaters continue to impact the trails at Highway 6, Benton Street and at the entrance to Lower City Park. The status of these locations is day-to-day depending on rainfall. Care should be exercised on all trails as sudden rainfalls can wash debris onto trails in locations where it has not previously been. 

For more information, contact the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department at 319-356-5100.

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