(Lake Park)– Some major renovations are planned for the city park in Lake Park. The city council Monday evening reviewed plans for the $3 million project. Mike Cedar of Beck Engineering says a number of improvements are planned along with a number of new amenities…
“Primarily focused on re-connecting to the lakefront, to the waterfront, clearing some of the vegetation out, providing more walkability, more amenities, playground spaces and seating areas as well as on the east side creating a new trailhead, trail connections up to Tatanka Ska Trace and providing some new monument signage as well as kind of pull you into the park, so a whole range of improvements all throughout the park that we prioritized at different levels, but the real focus is to connect to the water and connect to the existing trails systems.”
Additional amenities include shelter and parking improvements, additional lighting, space for a farmer’s market, a dog park, kiosks, a new bridge on the existing trail in the park, shower and restroom facilities and a recreational area.
Community member Tim Moerman (mormon) serves on a steering committee for the project. He says the vast majority of the project will be funded through grants and fundraising…
“Total cost is about $3 million. We hope to get about $250,000 from private fundraising from the community and people who support the project; $800,000 from outside funding grants from foundations and the state of Iowa; and then the rest from city resources, either through debt or through reserves.”
Moerman says the fundraising will be on a fast track…
“Our hope is to have the private fundraising done by summer of 2025 and then move into a CAT Grant probably in late summer of ’25 and hopefully that gets awarded in late ’25 and then start in ’26.”
The Lake Park City Council voted 5-0 Monday evening to pave the way for fundraising and grant applications to get underway.
