Coralville Courier

A well maintained and modern trail system system in the corridor really adds to the quality of life here.

Trails Throughout Coralville

Coralville has over 20 miles of recreational trails and over extra-wide sidewalks that connect throughout the community. As Coralville grows, we have identified about 40 additional miles of trail which could be part of future development.

Trail development is funded in two ways in Coralville:

• Through state and federal grant programs with match money from local hotel / motel taxes
• Through working with developers as subdivisions are planned to place dual-purpose trails for recreational use and for sewer manhole access

Area Trail & Bike Parking Maps

• Coralville Trails and Overwide Sidewalks
• Coralville / Iowa City Bike Parking
• Iowa Bike Trails mapped by the Iowa Department of Transportation
• Iowa City Metro Area Trails mapped by the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County

Trailheads
Coralville has several trailheads or facilities to help users enjoy the trail system.  Trailheads have parking, restrooms, and amenities such as shelters or concessions.  The following serve as trailheads in Coralville:  

• Brown Deer Golf Club, 1900 Country Club Dr.
• Tom Harkin Trailhead, 719 Camp Cardinal Blvd.
• Coralville Youth Sports Park, 2280 Dempster Dr.
• Iowa Firefighters Memorial, 1 Russell Slade Blvd. (off exit 242, Interstate-80)
• North Ridge Pavilion, 2250 Holiday Rd.

via www.coralville.org

City Park Amusement Rides - 200 E. Park Road, Iowa City.  The amusement rides in City Park are open from noon to 8 p.m. daily Saturday, starting in late May  through late August, weather permitting.  Features:  A carousel, several "kiddy rides" and the station for the 15-inch-gauge City Park railroad. Many childrens' birthdays have been celebrated here.  

Not only is swimming a lot of fun with family and friends, it's a great way to stay in shape too.  Whether you prefer the beach and sand between your toes, or the slides and fountains of a public pool, the choices are many in the corridor.

City Park Pool - 200 W Park Rd, Iowa City.  The City Park Pool is located outdoors on Park Road in Upper City Park on the northwest side of Iowa City. This is a T-shaped pool featuring a super shallow area on both sides of the ‘T,’ a 50-meter and 25-yard lap swim area, and two (2) one-meter and two (2) three-meter diving boards. The pool depth ranges from 1 to 14 feet. The facility also features a small wading pool for use by young children being directly supervised by a responsible adult (16 years or older).  The City Park Pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Coralville Community Aquatic Center - 1513 7th St., Coralville.  Features over 11,000 square feet of surface water with a 25-meter L-shaped pool that has zero depth entry, diving boards, three slides, and a splash deck full of fountains and play structures for the little ones to enjoy.  The water slides feature an open flume body slide and a space bowl body slide which circles swimmers around 2-4 times before dropping into an 8-foot pool of water.  An on-deck shaded seating area allows patrons to escape from the sun.  And The Patio, a full-service concession stand, offers something to meet everyone's tastes.  

Coralville Lake - 2850 Prairie Du Chien Rd NE Iowa City.  Swimming beaches are located on Coralville Lake at Sugar Bottom, Sandy Beach, and West Overlook recreation areas. These beaches are all open to the public for swimming. The Sugar Bottom beach, which is located by the mountain bike trail is free. The other two beaches charge $1.00 per person for persons 12 years of age and older; up to $4.00 per car.

Kent Park - Located 3 miles west of Tiffin on Highway 6.  Kent Park Beach is open 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily from the first Saturday after Memorial Day through Labor Day. The beach is NOT lifeguard-supervised. Swim at your own risk.

Lake Macbride - 3525 Highway 382 NE, Solon.  Lake Macbride offers swimming as well as refreshments at the beautiful beach area. The Macbride beach is a great place for young and old to cool off on a hot summer day. Swimming is restricted to the designated beach area only.

North Liberty Aquatic Center - 520 W. Cherry St., North Liberty.  The North Liberty Outdoor Pool truly offers something for everyone! It allows a spot for toddlers to play, teens to hang out, adults to lounge in the sun and a shaded area for grandma and grandpa to comfortably watch the action.  Features:  Zero Depth Entry, Mushroom Spray, Floatables & Floatable Walk, Mini Slide Play Structure, Water Slides, Diving Boards. 

And if you're not really into swimming, but getting wet sounds like a cool idea:

Fairmeadows Splash Pad - 2500 Miami Drive, Iowa City.   The splash pad is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily during the summer and is free of charge.  The splash padoffers 16 different water play stations for kids and adults of all ages. 

Wetherby Splash Pad - 2400 Taylor Dr., Iowa City.  The splash pad operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and is free of charge.  The Wetherby Splash Pad is a water playground that provides fun for kids of all ages. The splash pad features 15 water sprays which include the following: an Arch, Magic Mist, Foaming Geyser, Water Jelly, Bucket Trio, Water Tunnel, Umbrella, Fountain Spray, Aquajumper, Spray Cannon, Ground Geyser and a Bollard Activator. The splash pad is touch-activated, and water turns off after a designated period of time.

And when weather doesn't permit, you can always swim indoors:

Coralville Rec Center - 1506 8th St  Coralville.  The indoor pool is 25 yards long and eight lanes wide, and features:  An additional shallow end, Aqua Climb (a poolside climbing wall), separate wading pool, whirlpool spa.  Rate is $3.25 per person for a daily pass, ages two and up.

Mercer Park Aquatic Center - 2701 Bradford Dr., Iowa City.  The Mercer Park Aquatic Center is divided into three separate sections. The deep section is on the east end of the pool. This section is 25 yards long; depth ranges from 4'6" to 12' and contains two (2) one-meter diving boards. The middle section is 25 yards long; depth ranges from 4'2" to 4'6". The shallow section is on the west end of the pool. It is approximately 2'6" to 4'.  There is an outside wading pool area which requires children to have adult supervision.  The Mercer Park Aquatic Center is also equipped with a 12 person spa.

North Liberty Rec Center - 520 W Cherry St, North Liberty.  Open year round, the City of North Liberty is proud to provide you with the newest indoor swimming facility in the area. This pool was designed to meet the needs of the community as a whole. We strive to provide a wide variety of activities and programs in a safe and clean environment.  The pool features:  Six Lane 25-meter Lap Swim Area, One Meter Diving Board, Basketball Hoop, Zero Depth Entry, Play Area.

Robert A. Lee Rec Center Pool - 220 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City.  This is an L-shaped pool featuring a 25-yard main body, with the water ranging from 3 to 5 feet in this area. The bottom of the ‘L’ is a 10-foot deep diving well which does not have a diving board. There is a wading pool area which requires children to have adult supervision. This pool is in operation on a year-round basis.

Despite a fairly densely packed metro area that's ever-growing in the corridor, the choices for where to wet a line are many - even in downtown Iowa City which boasts some of the best walleye fishing around!

Coralville Reservoir - Located about four miles north of Iowa City, this 5,280 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lake is best fished by boat.  Just about every species of fish native to the waters of the midwest can be found here.  Amenities for the fisherman at Coralville Reservoir include boat access via one hard surface boat ramp just off the Mehaffey Bridge area, a fishing jetty, boat rental and camping.   Noted for white bass.

F.W. Kent Park - 2048 Hwy 6 NW, Oxford.  This picturesque 1,082-acre park located 3 miles west of Tiffin on Highway 6 features a 27-acre lake, which contains catfish, large mouth bass, bluegill, walleye and crappie and provides the angler with many fine hours of fishing enjoyment.   A hard surface boat ramp can be found on the east side of the lake.  Excellent bass lake.

Iowa River - 207 W. Burlington St., Iowa City.  The Burlington Street Bridge below the damn is the spot to be if you're looking to catch walleye.    The east side of the river below the University of Iowa Power Plant is THE spot, giving fishermen the best shot at a real whopper.  Regulars typically catch fish in the 3-5 pounds on a routine basis in the spring and fall.  Catfish bite from ice break to ice-over.  Access to a boat ramp can be found approximately 1-1/2 miles south of the damn at Sturgis Ferry Park.

Lake Macbride State Park - An angler's delight! Good catches of walleyes, channel catfish, crappies and muskie await the angler in the 812-acre artificial lake located 4 miles west of Solon. Walleyes, channel catfish and muskies are stocked annually. Lake Macbride may be the only lake in Iowa in which the prized Kentucky spotted bass can be caught. Good lake access is available for both shoreline and boat fishing.  There are seven boat ramps on the lake and a number of fishing jetties.  Boat rental is available at the marina.  Spring crappie fishing is excellent.

For Iowa Fishing Regulations, click here.  

The corridor is blessed with many parks and open green spaces.  Despite a dense metro population of well over 200,000 people living in the corridor area, there is an abundance of lush green parks and trail systems to choose from and enjoy.  

City Park - 200 E. Park Road, Iowa City.  Nestled along the Iowa River, amenities include picnic shelters, a swimming pool, two ponds, hiking/jogging paths, biking trail, riverfront boat ramp, carnival rides, the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival Stage, bocce/tennis/basketball/horseshoe courts, sand volleyball and more.

   F.W. Kent Park - 2048 Hwy 6 NW, Oxford.  This picturesque 1,082-acre park located 3 miles west of Tiffin on Highway 6 is one of Iowa’s premier county parks and one of the nicest you will find anywhere.  A 27-acre lake, which contains catfish, large mouth bass, bluegill, walleye and crappie, provides the angler with many fine hours of fishing enjoyment.  Come and explore the prairies, forests and wetlands, camp or enjoy a swim after an afternoon of fishing, hiking or participating in any of the other activities at F.W. Kent Park.  

Lake McBride State Park - 3525 Highway 382 NE, Solon, Iowa.  Lake Macbride State Park's 2,180 acres offer much to the outdoor enthusiast: fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking, camping, boating and lots more. The park is located in two units. The northern unit lies at the end of County Road F-16, 4 miles west of Solon. Here you will find a modern campground, boat ramps, beach and boat rental, picnic areas and the park office. The southern unit is located off County Road F-28 (Fifth Street in Solon), 3 miles west of Solon. The southern unit offers a non-modern campground, boat ramps, picnic areas, a frisbee golf course and a prairie.

S.T. Morrison Park - 1513 7th Street, Coralville, located behind the police station and city hall.  With a playground, tennis courts, ball fields, fishing pond, wireless internet, home of the Music in the Park Concert Series and Farmers’ Market, this includes the grounds of the Coralville Community Aquatic Center. Small shelters are strategically placed and large shelters are available for picnics, reunions, and gatherings.

Sturgis Ferry Park - 1700 South Riverside Dr., Iowa City.  If you're into fishing, this may be a spot to check out.  A 37 acre park situated on the Iowa River, amenities include picnic tables, small pavilion, a grill and a boat ramp.

Terrill Mill Park - 1209 N. Dubuque Street/Taft Speedway, Iowa City.  This 17 acre park is nestled around a bend of the Iowa River.  Amenities include a picnic shelter, grill, hiking/biking trail and a 11,500 square foot skateboard park.