CHARLES CITY – In another sign that Charles City is becoming a regional leader, the Floyd county community has been awarded a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to the city of Charles City, Mayor Jim Erb will be in Washington, D.C. to accept the award on February 5th. The award recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to develop in ways that protect the environment, provide housing and transportation choices and strengthens their economies.
Charles City won in the category of Plazas, Parks, and Public Places for its Riverfront Park. According to the EPA, “this multi-facility park built on a flood plain connects to downtown and adjacent low-income housing, brings economic benefits, and has become the recreational heart of the city.”
Charles City is becoming known in the region for its wealth of manufacturing jobs.
Dubuque, Iowa also won an award for its Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood.
According to the EPA:
After decades of fighting against the often-flooded Cedar River, Charles City transformed it into an asset. Using land acquired through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood buyouts, Charles City created a vibrant, inviting riverfront park with a whitewater course. Capitalizing on the river’s natural features to help prevent future flooding, Charles City turned the river from an obstacle into an ecological and social benefit. Members of the community were involved in the design and construction of the park, creating a space for people to reconnect with the river. Riverfront Park is a model of how to strategically use flooded properties to create a sustainable, economically valuable amenity for the environment and the community.
The Cedar River runs through the heart of Charles City, crossing directly under historic Main Street and flowing past Charles City’s downtown neighborhoods. Despite this central location, open green space on the river banks remained largely unused due to persistent flooding and lack of easy access for recreation. FEMA bought the land through its buyout program, which purchases flooded properties from owners and allows empty lots to become open public space. In 2006, the city’s Parks and Recreation Board began a redevelopment plan to encourage use of the area and maintain a natural environment to mitigate flood risks and generate economic activity.
The board engaged the community in the planning process. Previous plans from students at Iowa State University were included as options for the riverfront redevelopment. One of the most popular ideas was proposed by a local kayak and paddle enthusiast: create a multi-functional recreational space that would include the first whitewater course in the state of Iowa. Planning halted in 2008, however, when the Cedar River flooded to record levels, destroying homes along the river banks. Despite limited resources and competing financial interests, leaders in Charles City remained committed to the residents’ vision for a multi-use park. By June 2010, with restored grant funding, the first phases of construction began. In the river itself, hydrologists minimized swimming safety hazards and flood risks by installing in-stream features that also improved the river’s health for local fish species and provided safer access for fishing. New paths now connect the park to downtown and link to existing trails and major intersections, letting pedestrians walk directly to the park and other downtown amenities, such as a grocery store, post office, and city hall. Subsequent federal funds allowed the community to extend this path to a neighboring affordable housing complex, improving river access for residents.
Stormwater mitigation features, like the stormwater fountain and ravine play area, create landscape sculptures that slow water flow and trap sediment before it enters the watershed. The stormwater fountain uses existing curbs and drain pipes to slow stormwater flows and disperse water when it rains. The ravine play area increases the river’s capacity for flooding by eliminating the steep bank while creating gently sloping riverfront access. The park has been so popular that the community organized a committee to continue developing the original master plan, adding a labyrinth and amphitheater in 2011. Eagle Scouts donated time and effort constructing retaining walls and a disc-golf course, and volunteer groups are installing a rain garden and children’s memorial.
Incremental investment in the park by the city and local stakeholders has resulted in renewed interest and new events along the river. Local business owners have felt the impact, with increases in pedestrian and bicycle traffic bringing new economic activity to downtown. People from all over the country have flocked to Charles City as a kayaking destination, and the new public spaces such as the natural play area, fountain, and picnic area have brought local residents back to the river. Charles City Riverfront Park has helped reap civic, economic, and ecological rewards while respecting the city’s most underused amenity—the Cedar River.
