Great park we found out about from friends who discovered the ENORMOUS play structure here. The…read morepark includes the aforementioned playland, some baseball diamonds, an aquatic center and plenty of free space for the chilluns to burn off some energy. The benches and pavilions are quite nice as well and make for some perfect outdoor dining on spring evenings. It's located on the east side of Iowa City just past Sycamore mall, so it's a bit of a jaunt for those in North Liberty or Coralville. That said, it's not all that far and it's worth it for the playland. A must check out for families and close to Jimmy Jacks so you can get some legit takeout BBQ while you're here!

Do you ever wish there was an adult playground?…read more You know, where you could swing gleefully, strain to monkey across some bars or slide as you grin ear to ear-- maybe even build a completely BA sandcastle? Oh and most importantly, this mythical dream park is for ADULTS ONLY. If you have, consider yourself warned: DO NOT go to Mercer Park. Because oh my gosh, you'll be totally jealous at what the Iowa City kiddos get to play on. Iowa City's largest play area (I'm hard pressed to think of a bigger one) is only two years old and is pure magic. It's got a sensory play center, a net climbing course, a MASSIVE tower with enclosed slide and equipment meant for kiddos ages 2-to-5. There are also shelters, picnic tables, grills, lit baseball/softball fields, tee ball field, tennis courts, a refurbish old fire engine play structure... you name it-- it's got it. Even the indoor aquatic center lives at Mercer, too. There's ample parking and literally kids (and adults?) of all ages will enjoy it. My kids (ages 2 and 4) absolutely love the ginormous tower and crazy four person seesaw. Come check it out!

Penn Meadows Park is a solid location for softball tournaments!…read more It boasts nine well maintained baseball/softball fields, plenty of space for warmups, a few batting cages, trees for shade between games and plenty of bathrooms. My only three qualms are that 1) parking can be a bit crazy on tournament days, 2) the dugouts are insanely small with only one entrance and 3) the fields are numbered however they are named, too. You really have to scope out the map to figure out where 'OPTIMIST' field is or 'Pizza Ranch' field. (I get sponsorships, but let's just keep fields numbered as it's more intuitive...) I believe it is the largest park in NL. It has: picnic shelters, a few soccer fields, a playground, a volleyball court and some newer tennis courts. Additionally, there is a trail around the park. My 10U softball team took second place at the tournament here this weekend! We definitely enjoyed playing at Penn Meadows Park.

Very nice pickleball courts and friendly people. I believe there were 6 or 8 dedicated pb courts.read more

First and foremost, it is what the name says. They have five softball/baseball diamonds with a…read morecovered pavilion seating area in between and multiple soccer fields. There is also a playground area, batting cages, bocce courts(!), and a pond with a trail. You'll often see someone fishing along the side of the pond (by a gazebo), lots of walkers and joggers, and the many parents and children using the fields. For those attending sporting events, there is a small concession stand and indoor bathrooms as well. Parking is plentiful. My main interaction with the park is from many walks around the trail or biking through as it connects to the larger bike trail system, and it's ideal for both! It's a wonderful place for a stroll in the evening to unwind from the day.

What a wonderful sports park!…read more As an Iowa City native, I was shocked to know this existed. It is less than five years old. This review is only based on the youth soccer fields at this park. My kiddos have done Tiny Tot soccer here multiple seasons-- in the spring, summer and fall. I love that the complex is easy to navigate, I adore that there are indoor bathrooms and that the parking is plentiful! There are nine well maintained youth soccer fields (which I think turns into three full-size soccer fields?) It also can host flag football. I've peeped the ball fields, there are five. Batting cages live here! The pavilion is nice, with shade. It appears to connect to some trails in the neighborhood? There are couple shelters, too. Coralville Youth Sports Park checks all the boxes. While it isn't SUPER convenient for us Iowa City residents to drive to, it is a perfect location for anyone in Coralville/North Liberty! What a great addition that was much needed.

Considering this is a free rec center with a pool it's not so bad. It does cost $22 for a monthly…read morepass or you can buy individual swims although the individual swims are much more expensive at about four bucks I think. The water is warmer than Mercer and they don't have a hot tub. Aside from that, the gym facility is super weak but again it's free and has a few weight machines that get the job done if you're not a hard-core weight person. The basketball courts are rarely used and also a nice feature. It's quiet, clean and relatively normal but nothing fancy.

This is a great community pool. The water is warm and feels great for the noncompetitive swimmer…read more There are a variety of exercise classes. There are lanes for swimming and a wonderful deep area for independent water aerobics. Perhaps the best part of this pool are the members of the community who use it. They are so friendly and welcoming to all-- a place where friends can be made and easy-going conversation makes the time fly! This community pool is a downtown treasure. While I live closer to Mercer, the warmth of the water and the people who swim at Robert A Lee lure me to this lovely place where everybody knows your name.

This review is a little biased because Wetherby Park is right in my backyard. That aside, it really…read moreis a lovely little place. 9-hole disc golf course, walking path, splash pad, playground, pavilion, basketball courts, community garden area, as well as an edible garden that's free to anyone. We're in this park weekly and have sampled everything is has to offer except for the basketball courts. :) It's a great place to spend a few hours. I'm happy to see that the dumpster that was located at the park has been replaced by regular trashcans. The dumpster was really contributing to the litter in the park (in my opinion) and now that trashcans are on site and emptied regularly, people from the neighborhood can't dump their regular trash here. That's my only complaint and it's great improved over the past month or so. A must-visit park in the South District of Iowa City!

This is a great little park, complete with a splash pad, playground, gazebo with grills and tables,…read moreand a disc golf course. The park has a lovely walking circle to get in your exercise. Plus it is surrounded by cornfields so it feels very Iowa. This park also leases community garden plots every year for very affordable rates. If you live in an apartment or a rental and want to grow your own food but can't, then this is the place for you. 10x50 plots are $25 and slightly smaller plots are $15. One of my girlfriends did this and said the plots were well prepared. The park also has ample parking lot at the end of Taylor street so you don't have to fight for street parking. Final bonus, it's a Pokestop and has benches so you can attach a lure, sit and enjoy the afternoon.

While I've only been here once, I've been hearing about it for years from my better half and the…read morelittle squirts. We came on over after a coffee date with the kids and it's great spot to burn off some energy before bed! My exploration has been limited to the front play area with the delightful large frog. It's free to get in and the kids are able to run around and climb on stuff to make sleep come a little easier that evening! The other available activities include swimming, a track, ball courts and plenty of other rec center type stuff. We'll be frequenting anytime where in the area and need to run off a little energy.

I purchased an annual couple's membership to access the gym equipment (no pool) for an extremely…read morereasonable price. You can purchase memberships that include the pool, too, but you can also just pay the daily pass if you use the pool sparingly. There is a diverse selection of weights and machines to choose from, as well as a well-kept track on the second level. I also really appreciate the placement of a number of mats throughout the space to allow for stretching and ground workouts. There are a few cubbies and coat racks available as you enter the second floor, which work perfectly for me to leave a few items. Locker rooms are also available on the first floor with locks for rent form the front desk (or just bring your own). The two gymnasiums are also clean and in good shape. Open gym times are posted at the front desk and online each week. You can also reserve the space rather simply. I've participated in Flag Football practice in the gym the past few weeks, and it was easy to navigate where to go.

This summer (somehow) I explored the outdoors a shi*t ton while also feeling absolutely trapped in…read moremy home? I don't know if that makes sense to you? But... COVID-19. Amiright?! Hickory Hill Park has been on my gotta-try list all summer. FINALLY on Labor Day weekend, we found the time to drive across town, to the wayyyyy east side to check it out. LET ME TELL YOU. THIS PARK IS BEAUTIFUL. There's tons of trails for jogging, walking and hiking! From wooded ones, to paths through the prairie. There is something for everyone. Picnic shelters, too. There are a couple reasons this is a four vs five star. 1. There's not a lot of signage on the trails, so it is very easy to get lost or not know where to continue on to! Make sure you have a map online pulled up when you visit. 2. Hickory Hill boasts very, very narrow paths. So during a pandemic-- BRING YOUR MASK! We typically are the family just try to distance when we are hiking outdoors... but distancing is hard on trails at this east side gem.

Clearly long cold Iowa winters have made me far more brave than I would have imagined. I mean who…read moresays, "It's a beautiful day lets go check out a new park" when its December and 30 degrees out. Never thought that would be me, but sure enough now knowing subzero temperatures have brainwashed me to think 30 degrees is a gorgeous winter day! With this new found appreciation for 30 degree days I packed the pups in the car and headed to check out Hickory Hill Park. What a nice park full of no shortage of multiple winding trails through the woods and prairies. All the trails were very well maintained and were perfect for exploring with our dogs. This is the perfect park if you are just looking to enjoy nature. So want to trail run, walk/hike, stroll with your dog? Then you found the right spot! I also imagine this would be a great spot for snowshoeing or cross country skiing if there was a significant snow fall. It wasn't muddy when we went since the ground was frozen but I imagine if there was recently a lot of rain this place could get pretty muddy.

Years and years, multiple kiddo sports teams and swim lessons later-- this is still my Rec Center…read moreof choice in the Iowa City area. I stand by that the staff here is insanely helpful and courteous, as well. You can't go wrong with signing up your kiddo for: - SWIM LESSONS. The times are convenient, the staff is knowledgeable, pricing seems right. My only knock on this is you can't register online, only via the phone. - SUPREME LEAGUES. My children have participated in basketball and football leagues through the Coralville Rec and I can say from experience of signing up one season with another rec center in the area-- they do it best. Communication is on point. -FREE PARKING. The Iowa City Rec Center is a nightmare to park at most times. And honestly, the NL Rec Center (while it is free) is chaos as well. -SPARKS CAMP. This is hands down the best camp offered in the area. The price is right. It is offered ALL summer. They do field trips, pool visits, library days and tons of fun activities. The staff is always great, too. Be sure to sign up right away! It fills up fast around March. I think my biggest knock is just that the facility itself is pretty dated. Get your kid active and thriving, sign them up for programmed at the Coralville Rec Center.

We visited the facility during Spring Break. We were visiting family and this was a great way to…read moreshare time in the pool. Gorgeous facility! Clean and friendly staff. $5 guest passes.