Our Local Green Spaces

This picturesque 1,062-acre park is 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.

Over thirteen miles of hiking trails featuring grassed and crushed rock surfaces run through Kent Park's many native communities. Crushed rock trail around the 27-acre stocked lake, prairies, forests and wetlands, camp or enjoy a swim after an afternoon of fishing, hiking or participating in any of the other activities including at the conservation education center.

Two Horse Farm is an 83-acre park that features restored prairie and oak-hickory forest. This property was added to JCC's public lands in 2022.

The property is a former farm and several buildings on site remind the visitor of that history. There are 1.5 miles of grassed trail that wind through the property.

This 94-acre tract is located 10 miles southwest of Iowa City just off Highway 1. An unnamed tributary of Dirty Face Creek runs through the western-most part of the property. Approximately 30 acres of former pastureland has been planted to a variety of hardwood trees and shrubs.

Iowa City's Sycamore Greenway Trail is a paved trail running alongside the Sycamore Greenway, a stormwater management system comprising a series of cells planted with native flowers and grasses, which allow runoff from nearby neighborhoods to infiltrate into the soil to help prevent flooding of area creeks and rivers.

Dovetail Recreation Area is a combination of active play space south of Oakdale Boulevard, and an environmentally rich nature experience north of Oakdale Boulevard. As visitors walk the paved walking trail, they can observe wildlife in both deep-water habitat and in wetland habitat. The wetlands and lake were built as part of the Dovetail housing development as a permit for wetland impacts.

Beaver Kreek Park is located at the end of South Chestnut Street. This 2.9-acre park is an attractive neighborhood park with three pedestrian accesses from Juniper Court, Birch Court and South Hickory Street. This park features a pedestrian bridge and beautiful trees throughout the park. Facilities include a wide variety of playground equipment; a larger basketball court; picnic tables and benches.

Hickory Hill Park Woods is a diverse 190 acre area of wooded ravines, reconstructed prairie, wetlands, and open fields on the northeast side of Iowa City. irregularly shaped, and stretching about a mile from north to south. With entrances, from Oakland Cemetery, Bloomington St, and 1st Ave, it’s accessible on foot by many downtown and eastside neighborhoods.

The Tom Harkin Trailhead is located on the north side of Clear Creek, just east of Camp Cardinal Boulevard.

There are over nine miles of singletrack in the Clear Creek Greenbelt with primary access points at Tom Harkin Trailhead and at Creekside Sports Park.

In October 2008, the city was awarded a $100,000 DNR REAP (Resource, Enhancement and Protection) grant to develop the property, including restoration of the prairie and woodland areas, installation of trails, a pedestrian bridge, burying of power lines and pole removal and lighting.

Terry Trueblood Recreation Area was acquired in 2006. Amenities include a playground, three shelters, restrooms, kayak, paddle boat, paddle board rentals, concessions, rental facility event lodge, trails, lake, riverfront, and natural area.

76.5 acre developing park with great trails! Open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime of the year. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.

This 37-acre park provides excellent recreational opportunities for the entire family. Facilities include picnic shelters for private and group use; a splash pad and play area, youth and adult softball and baseball fields; soccer fields; tennis and pickleball courts and a pedestrian trail throughout the park.

The 49-acre preserve was acquired in 1985 and is near the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Ryerson’s Woods was designated a state preserve in 2014, joining a list of more than 90 preserves recognized by the state for significant natural or cultural features.

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.

Centennial Park is the community’s largest park. It is still being development, but currently includes a stocked pond on its 40 acres of greenspace and three play areas.

A wonderful city park with beautiful open space along the river. It connects to the areas trail systems. The playground uses nature-like elements like hollow trunks to climb on and through, and rock structures to run around. A lot of different elements to engage with in this open space!

North Ridge Park serves as a hub for trails north to Oakdale Research Park and to the North Liberty Recreation Center, as well as south to Coral Ridge Mall, under I-80, and to the Clear Creek Trail. This neighborhood park features a fishing pond, playgrounds, a 0.9 mile walking trail, picnic areas, and shelters.

Creekside Commons is a 17 acre park that includes a play structure, small stocked pond, and open green space.

Lake Macbride State Park is a 2,180-acre park located near the city of Solon and the only state park in Johnson County. The park is composed of two units centered on the 900-acre Lake Macbride. 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.