Hopefully you all enjoyed the breakdown of this year’s top restaurant, doctors and hair stylists! This week I will be breaking down the top voted parks, pools and splash pads as well as fun seasonal activities in the area
Best Parks
North Ridge Park 2250 Holiday Rd, Coralville, IA
This park is one of my favorites for all ages! It has a toddler size play structure as well as a full size one. It also has swings, a sandbox, and a bathroom. The park is surrounded by grassy areas and a pond and isn’t close to any busy roads which is nice
City Park 200 E. Park Road, Iowa City, IA
Another great park that is secluded and away from busy roads. The structure at this one is large and great for all ages. There are small carnival style rides available from 1pm-7pm during the summer and on weekends only from 1-6pm after the school year starts. Cost is $1 per ride or $8 for a 10-punch card.
S.T. Morrison 1513 7th St, Coralville, IA
A great park right in central Coralville. It is next to the library and community pool and has multiple structures and play areas
Mercer Park 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City, IA
A large park with lots of fun for the kids! It also has an indoor tot time so if you’re headed to the park and rain is a possibility (because…Iowa) then this is a great one to go to with a back up option!
Quail Ridge 921 W Zeller St, North Liberty, IA
A fun North Liberty option with a great spider web climbing activity, a shield swing and lots of slides!
Penn Meadows Park 170 North Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA
This playground is 3 stories tall with lots of slides, monkey bars and climbing areas. They also put in a new tot playground recently with a fun spinning toy my kids really enjoy. This park is attached to the Penn Splash park so you have that option as well if it’s extremely hot
Best Pools
Coralville Recreation Center 1513 7th St, Coralville, IA
Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm and Sat/Sun 12pm-6pm
Cost: $4.50 per person (under 2 is free)
North Liberty Recreation Center 520 W. Cherry Street, North Liberty, IA
Open Mon-Fri 12pm-9pm and Sat/Sun 12pm-6pm
Cost: $4 per adult and $3 per child 3+ (under 3 is free)
City Park Pool 200 Park Rd, Iowa City, IA
Open: Daily 1pm-5pm and Twilight Swim from 5pm-8pm
Cost: $4 for ages 3+ or $3 during twilight swim (under 2 is free)
Mercer Aquatic Center 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City, IA
Open: Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm (shallow end open till 8pm) and Sat/Sun 1pm-8pm
Cost: $4 for ages 3+ (under 2 is free)
Best Splash Pads
Tiffin Splash Pad 809 E. Marengo Rd, Tiffin, IA
A great fenced in splash pad. It also has a fun park next to it for once the kids get bored playing in the water. A covered picnic area is next to the splash area as well
Penn Meadows 170 North Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA
Medium sized splash pad with a few water activities. My kids like to bring cups/buckets etc to play with at this one. There is a lot of nearby shade in the mornings for parents to sit in as well as a picnic table right next to the water area
Wetherby 2400 Taylor Dr, Iowa City, IA
The largest splash pad in the area with 15 water spray options. Also adjacent to a playground and has a small amount of shade
*Best of Spring/Summer*
Below are a few of the events members noted as being their favorites for the warmer months. Facebook is a great place to find events going on near you and you can also google any of these to get exact dates. I know that most have already passed for the year but the Kids Day at Kinnick is still coming up in August!
-Kalona Days
-Summer Movie Series at Mall ($3)
-Blues and BBQ in NL
-Downtown Concert Series
-Art and Jazz Festivals
-Johnson County Fair
-4th of July Parade & Fireworks in Coralville
-Farmers Markets
-Hawkeye Spring Game & Kids Day
*Best of Fall/Winter*
The Fall in the Iowa City area is a fun and beautiful time! Once the humidity lets up a little we have some wonderful warm months before the extreme cold/ice hits. Make sure you check out the wonderful local orchards and pumpkin patches during that time! There are also lots of little farms around with fun activities for the whole family
-Wilson’s Apple Orchard
-Colony Pumpkin Patch
-Bloomsbury Farm
-Horse Drawn Carriage rides at Ped Mall
-Santa at Von Maur (FREE!!)
–BrrFest
-Scanlon Gym Tot Time
-Open Gym at Gym Nest or Synergy -Kid’s Winter Movie Series ($3)
*Other Places to Check Out*
-Terry Trueblood: Great walking path, paddle board and canoe rentals
-Lake McBride: hiking, biking, running trails, Raptor Center and Sugarbottom Beach
-Fossil Gorge
-NewBo Market in Cedar Rapids
-Maquoketa Caves
Alright members...Any other seasonal favorites?? Or other fun parks/area activities that were missed?
Best Parks
North Ridge Park 2250 Holiday Rd, Coralville, IA
This park is one of my favorites for all ages! It has a toddler size play structure as well as a full size one. It also has swings, a sandbox, and a bathroom. The park is surrounded by grassy areas and a pond and isn’t close to any busy roads which is nice
City Park 200 E. Park Road, Iowa City, IA
Another great park that is secluded and away from busy roads. The structure at this one is large and great for all ages. There are small carnival style rides available from 1pm-7pm during the summer and on weekends only from 1-6pm after the school year starts. Cost is $1 per ride or $8 for a 10-punch card.
S.T. Morrison 1513 7th St, Coralville, IA
A great park right in central Coralville. It is next to the library and community pool and has multiple structures and play areas
Mercer Park 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City, IA
A large park with lots of fun for the kids! It also has an indoor tot time so if you’re headed to the park and rain is a possibility (because…Iowa) then this is a great one to go to with a back up option!
Quail Ridge 921 W Zeller St, North Liberty, IA
A fun North Liberty option with a great spider web climbing activity, a shield swing and lots of slides!
Penn Meadows Park 170 North Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA
This playground is 3 stories tall with lots of slides, monkey bars and climbing areas. They also put in a new tot playground recently with a fun spinning toy my kids really enjoy. This park is attached to the Penn Splash park so you have that option as well if it’s extremely hot
Best Pools
Coralville Recreation Center 1513 7th St, Coralville, IA
Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm and Sat/Sun 12pm-6pm
Cost: $4.50 per person (under 2 is free)
North Liberty Recreation Center 520 W. Cherry Street, North Liberty, IA
Open Mon-Fri 12pm-9pm and Sat/Sun 12pm-6pm
Cost: $4 per adult and $3 per child 3+ (under 3 is free)
City Park Pool 200 Park Rd, Iowa City, IA
Open: Daily 1pm-5pm and Twilight Swim from 5pm-8pm
Cost: $4 for ages 3+ or $3 during twilight swim (under 2 is free)
Mercer Aquatic Center 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City, IA
Open: Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm (shallow end open till 8pm) and Sat/Sun 1pm-8pm
Cost: $4 for ages 3+ (under 2 is free)
Best Splash Pads
Tiffin Splash Pad 809 E. Marengo Rd, Tiffin, IA
A great fenced in splash pad. It also has a fun park next to it for once the kids get bored playing in the water. A covered picnic area is next to the splash area as well
Penn Meadows 170 North Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA
Medium sized splash pad with a few water activities. My kids like to bring cups/buckets etc to play with at this one. There is a lot of nearby shade in the mornings for parents to sit in as well as a picnic table right next to the water area
Wetherby 2400 Taylor Dr, Iowa City, IA
The largest splash pad in the area with 15 water spray options. Also adjacent to a playground and has a small amount of shade
*Best of Spring/Summer*
Below are a few of the events members noted as being their favorites for the warmer months. Facebook is a great place to find events going on near you and you can also google any of these to get exact dates. I know that most have already passed for the year but the Kids Day at Kinnick is still coming up in August!
-Kalona Days
-Summer Movie Series at Mall ($3)
-Blues and BBQ in NL
-Downtown Concert Series
-Art and Jazz Festivals
-Johnson County Fair
-4th of July Parade & Fireworks in Coralville
-Farmers Markets
-Hawkeye Spring Game & Kids Day
*Best of Fall/Winter*
The Fall in the Iowa City area is a fun and beautiful time! Once the humidity lets up a little we have some wonderful warm months before the extreme cold/ice hits. Make sure you check out the wonderful local orchards and pumpkin patches during that time! There are also lots of little farms around with fun activities for the whole family
-Wilson’s Apple Orchard
-Colony Pumpkin Patch
-Bloomsbury Farm
-Horse Drawn Carriage rides at Ped Mall
-Santa at Von Maur (FREE!!)
–BrrFest
-Scanlon Gym Tot Time
-Open Gym at Gym Nest or Synergy -Kid’s Winter Movie Series ($3)
*Other Places to Check Out*
-Terry Trueblood: Great walking path, paddle board and canoe rentals
-Lake McBride: hiking, biking, running trails, Raptor Center and Sugarbottom Beach
-Fossil Gorge
-NewBo Market in Cedar Rapids
-Maquoketa Caves
Alright members...Any other seasonal favorites?? Or other fun parks/area activities that were missed?
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